Posaconazole immunoassays

ABSTRACT

Methods, compositions and kits are disclosed directed at posaconazole fragments, immunogens, signal generating moieties, antibodies that bind posaconazole and immunoassays for detection of posaconazole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (e), this application claims priority to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/764,353 filed on Feb. 13, 2013, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

INTRODUCTION

Posaconazole is a triazole antifungal agent. Posaconazole is designated chemically as 4-[4-[4-[4-[[(3R,5R)-5-(2,4-difluorophenyl)tetrahydro-5-(1H 1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-3-furanyl]methoxy]phenyl]-1-piperazinyl]phenyl]-2-[(1S,2S)-1-ethyl-2-hydroxypropyl]-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one with an empirical formula of C₃₇H₄₂F₂N₈O₄ and a molecular weight of 700.8. The structural formula is:

Invasive fungal infections are associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The incidence of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) has increased parallel with the increase in at-risk immunocompromised populations, such as patients undergoing solid organ and bone marrow transplantation, those receiving chemotherapy and/or long-term immunosuppression, and those with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Posaconazole is approved for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis and for prophylaxis against Aspergillus and Candida infections in severely immunocompromised patients. However, posaconazole has low and highly variable bioavailability due to saturable oral absorption, which is influenced by poor dissolution and intestinal pH, resulting in disproportionately increased exposure when administered in divided doses [Li et al., Clin. Pharmacokinet, 49:379-396]. Coadministration with food has been shown to increase posaconazole bioavailability by up to 4-fold [Krishna, et. al. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 53:958-966]; conversely, medications such as proton pump inhibitors have been shown to significantly decrease posaconazole exposure due to increased gastric pH [Walravens J, et al., Clin. Pharmacokinet. 50:725-734]. Low posaconazole concentrations have been commonly reported in clinical practice [Bryant et. al., Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 37:266-269; Eiden C, et al., Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 31:161-167; Lebeaux D, et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 53: 5224-5229; Neubauer W C, et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 54: 4029-4032; Shields R K, et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 55:1308-1311; Thompson G R, et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 53:2223-2224].

A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis of patient data revealed an apparent association between average posaconazole concentrations (C_(av)) and prophylactic efficacy [Merck & Co. 2010, Noxafil US prescribing information, revised 2012]. Therapeutic drug management (TDM) and individualization of therapy is a way to maximize the outcomes of vulnerable immunocompromised patients. With TDM, drug dosages could be individualized to the patient, and the chances of effectively treating fungal infections, may be much higher. It has been shown that sub-therapeutic posaconazole concentrations are common and are associated with poor clinical outcomes. As such, TDM may facilitate the efficacious posaconazole exposure [Dolton M J, et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 56: 5503-5510].

Routine TDM of posaconazole may be facilitated by the use of simple automated tests adaptable to general laboratory equipment, such as immunoassays. Currently there are no immunoassays available for determining levels of posaconazole in plasma or blood. As such, there is a need in the art for immunoassays for routine measurement of posaconazole in human biological fluids of patients treated with posaconazole.

SUMMARY

Methods, compositions and kits are disclosed directed at posaconazole fragments, immunogens, signal generating moieties, antibodies that bind posaconazole and immunoassays for detection of posaconazole.

The embodiments provide for detection of posaconazole in a sample. A variety of haptens, hapten-reactive partner conjugates, hapten derivatives, receptors, methods, and kits are useful in this determination.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a compound of the formula 1:

wherein

-   -   R is CH₂, NH, NHCO, S or O;     -   Y is a linking group; and     -   Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OH, —SH,         —S-acyl, —O-lower alkyl, halogen, —NH₂, epoxy, maleimidyl,         haloacetamide, carboxyl, activated carboxyl, an immunogenic         carrier, a protein, and a label, and salts thereof.

In some embodiments, the linking group includes 1-15 carbon atoms and/or 0-6 heteroatoms. In some embodiments, the linking group is selected from the group consisting of —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, —C(O)(CH₂)_(n)—, —C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, —C(O)(CH₂)_(n)—NHC(O)—, —C(O)(CH₂)_(n)—NHC(O)(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)SCH₂C(O)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)NH—(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—NH—C(O)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—NH—C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—, —C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)O—, and —C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)NH—, where n is an integer from 1 to 10, and including salts thereof. In some embodiments, the immunogenic carrier is a protein. In some embodiments, the protein is selected from the group consisting of hemocyanins, globulins and albumins. In some embodiments, the protein is bovine serum albumin (BSA) or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). In some embodiments, the immunogenic carrier is a polysaccharide. In some embodiments, the label is an enzyme. In some embodiments, the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, and horse radish peroxidase. In some embodiments, the enzyme is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). In some embodiments, the activated carboxyl group includes a group selected from the group consisting of hydroxysuccinimidyl, succinimidyl, carbonate, anhydride, and imidate.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for detecting posaconazole. The method includes combining in a reaction mixture a sample suspected of containing posaconazole with an antibody that binds a compound of formula 1. The method further includes detecting the presence or absence of a complex of posaconazole and the antibody, where the presence of the complex indicates the presence of posaconazole in the sample. In some embodiments, the reaction mixture further includes a labeled conjugate of a compound of formula 1. In some embodiments, the detecting includes determining the presence of an enzymatic reaction product of the label conjugate.

Aspects of the present disclosure include an isolated antibody that binds an epitope present in posaconazole and present in a compound of formula 1. In some embodiments, the antibody is a polyclonal antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody has a cross-reactivity with fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole of 0.1% or less each with respect to binding to posaconazole.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a kit for detecting posaconazole in a sample. The kit includes: (a) an antibody that binds an epitope present in posaconazole and present in a compound of formula 1; and (b) instructions for an assay for detecting posaconazole. In some embodiments, the kit includes ancillary reagents for detecting a complex of the antibody and posaconazole. In some embodiments, the kit further includes a labeled conjugate of a compound of formula 1. The antibody of the kit may be an antibody raised against a compound of formula 1 above. In some embodiments, the antibody is a polyclonal antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows chemical structures for posaconazole (1) and posaconazole fragment (2), according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows chemical structures for the triazole antifungal drugs: Fluconazole (3), Itraconazole (4), and Voriconazole (5).

FIG. 3 shows a synthetic scheme for the synthesis of posaconazole fragment hapten (POS-IV), according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a synthetic scheme for the synthesis of a Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) immunogen POS-IV KLH and a Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PDH) conjugate POS-IV G6PDH from an N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) ester posaconazole fragment hapten (POS-IV), according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5a and 5b are flow diagrams illustrating embodiments of a method for performing an immunodiagnostic assay for posaconazole, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The rate of increasing absorbance at 340 nm due to the conversion of NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide reduced) to NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide oxidized) is related to the concentration of posaconazole in the sample by a mathematical function. The enzyme reaction is catalyzed by the posaconazole-enzyme conjugate.

FIG. 6 shows a calibration curve for a competitive homogeneous immunoassay for posaconazole in pooled human serum calibrator matrix, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a ¹HNMR spectrum of POS-IV hapten, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DEFINITIONS

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure is related. The following terms are defined for purposes of the present disclosure.

Analyte

An analyte is the compound or composition to be measured, the material of interest, such as posaconazole. In certain embodiments, the analyte is a member of a specific binding pair (sbp) and may be a ligand, which is mono- or polyvalent, may be antigenic or haptenic, and is a single compound or plurality of compounds which share at least one common epitopic or determinant site.

Sample Suspected of Containing Analyte

Any sample which is reasonably suspected of containing analyte can be analyzed by the methods of the present disclosure. Such samples can include human, animal or man-made samples. The sample can be prepared in any convenient medium which does not interfere with the assay. The sample may be an aqueous solution or a natural fluid, such as, urine, whole blood, serum, plasma, cerebral-spinal fluid, or saliva. In some embodiments, the sample is serum.

Measuring the Amount of Analyte

Quantitative, semi-quantitative, and qualitative methods for determining analyte are considered to be methods of measuring the amount of analyte. For example, a qualitative method which merely detects the presence or absence of analyte in a sample suspected of containing an analyte is considered to be included within the scope of the embodiments. Synonyms for the phrase “measuring the amount of analyte” which are contemplated within the scope of the embodiments include, but are not limited to, detecting, measuring, or determining analyte; detecting, measuring, or determining the presence of analyte; and detecting, or determining the amount of analyte.

Human Serum

“Human serum”, as used herein, refers to the aqueous portion of human blood remaining after the fibrin and suspended material (such as cells) have been removed.

Immunoassay

As used herein, the terms “immunoassay” or “immunodiagnostic” refer to laboratory techniques or test systems that make use of the binding between an antigen or analyte and an antibody in order to identify and/or quantify at least one of the specific antigen or analyte or specific antibody in a biological sample.

As used here, the term “competitive immunoassay” refers to an experimental protocol in which a known amount of an identifiable antigen or analyte competes with another antigen or analyte for binding with an antibody. That is, a known antigen or analyte that binds with a known antibody is combined with a sample that is suspected of containing another antigen or analyte that also binds with the known antibody. This allows for the known antigen or analyte and another antigen or analyte to both compete for the binding site on the antibody. For example, a posaconazole fragment that binds with an anti-posaconazole antibody can be combined with a sample suspected of containing posaconazole, and the posaconazole fragment and posaconazole compete for binding with the anti-posaconazole antibody. The competition for binding with the antibody can then be used to determine whether or not posaconazole is present in the sample, and can further be used to quantify the amount of posaconazole in the sample.

Member of a Specific Binding Pair

A member of a specific binding pair (sbp member) is one of two different molecules, having an area on the surface or in a cavity which specifically binds to and is thereby defined as complementary with a particular spatial and polar organization of the other molecule. The members of the specific binding pair are referred to as ligand and receptor (antiligand), sbp member and sbp partner, or the like. In some embodiments, members of a specific binding pair are members of an immunological pair, such as antigen-antibody.

Ligand

A ligand is an organic compound for which a receptor naturally exists or can be prepared. For example, the analyte may be a ligand and embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for determining the concentration of the ligand.

Receptor

A receptor is a compound or composition capable of recognizing a particular spatial and polar organization of a molecule. These organized areas of a molecule are referred to as epitopic or determinant sites. For example, receptors include, but are not limited to, antibodies and enzymes.

Linking Group

The term “linker” or “linking group” refers to a portion of a chemical structure that connects two or more substructures. A linking group has at least one uninterrupted chain of atoms extending between the substructures. The atoms of a linking group are themselves connected by chemical bonds. The number of atoms in a linking group is determined by counting the atoms other than hydrogen. Linking groups can include, but are not limited to, groups such as alkylene, heteroalkylene, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, amino, as described herein.

Conjugate

A conjugate is a molecule that includes two or more substructures bound together, optionally through a linking group, to form a single structure. The binding can be made either by a direct connection (e.g., a chemical bond) between the subunits or by use of a linking group. For example, a conjugate may include a G6PDH enzyme or a label protein including alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase and horse radish peroxidase or a chemical label such as a fluorescent, luminescent or colorimetric molecule or microparticle attached to a hapten (e.g., posaconazole, posaconazole fragment, etc.), sbp member, or analyte analog.

Conjugation

Conjugation is any process where two subunits are linked together to form a conjugate. The conjugation process can include one or more steps.

Fragment

As used herein, a “fragment” is an incomplete or isolated portion of a compound derived or obtained from another (e.g., a parent compound) or by total synthesis, which is the complete organic synthesis of a complex organic compound, usually without the aid of biological processes and containing elements of the parent compound. Thus, in some embodiments, the term fragment refers to a chemical compound or molecule containing a portion of the parent compound (e.g., posaconazole) made by one or more chemical reactions. As such, a fragment can be a compound with a structure that includes a portion of the parent compound or derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, the fragment also represents the chemical structure that, when conjugated to a carrier protein, is the target for antibody production and binding.

Posaconazole Fragment

A “posaconazole fragment” as used in this disclosure refers to a compound with a structure that includes a portion of posaconazole or derivative thereof. In some embodiments, a posaconazole fragment competes with posaconazole for binding to an anti-posaconazole binding partner, such as an anti-posaconazole antibody.

Certain compounds disclosed herein in connection with embodiments can exist in unsolvated forms as well as solvated forms, including hydrated forms. In general, the solvated forms are equivalent to unsolvated forms and are encompassed within the reference to the compounds set out in the present disclosure. Certain compounds disclosed herein in connection with embodiments may exist in multiple crystalline or amorphous forms.

Hapten

Haptens are capable of binding specifically to corresponding antibodies, but usually do not themselves act as immunogens for preparation of the antibodies. Antibodies which recognize a hapten can be prepared against compounds that include the hapten linked to an immunogenic carrier.

Antibody

The term “anti-posaconazole antibody” refers to antibodies that are capable of specifically binding a posaconazole epitope of posaconazole, a posaconazole fragment, or a posaconazole conjugate. “Anti-posaconazole antibodies” include both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, as well as antigen-binding fragments thereof as defined herein. A “posaconazole epitope” refers to an epitope that is present in posaconazole and in a posaconazole fragment (e.g., a posaconazole conjugate).

The term “binds specifically” or “specifically binds” in the context of antibody binding, refers to high avidity and/or high affinity binding of an antibody to a specific antigen, e.g., to posaconazole. In specific binding under appropriate conditions, antibody binding to posaconazole is stronger than binding of the same antibody to any other epitope, particularly those which may be present in molecules in association with, or in the same sample, as the posaconazole to be detected, e.g., binds more strongly (e.g., higher affinity, higher avidity, or both) to posaconazole than to a non-posaconazole epitope so that by adjusting binding conditions the antibody binds almost exclusively to posaconazole or a posaconazole moiety as present in a compound of the present disclosure, and not to non-posaconazole moieties that may be present in the sample. Antibodies which bind specifically to posaconazole may be capable of binding other antigens at a weak, yet detectable, level (e.g., 10% or less of the binding shown to posaconazole). Such weak binding, or background binding, is readily discernible from the specific antibody binding to posaconazole, e.g., by use of appropriate controls. “Antibody activity” or “antibody binding activity” in the context of analyte binding assays generally refers to the ability of an antibody to bind a specific antigen or analyte in preference to other potential antigens or analytes via the antigen combining site located within a variable region of an immunoglobulin.

The term “antibody” includes a protein molecule having one or more polypeptides substantially encoded by all or part of the recognized immunoglobulin genes. The recognized immunoglobulin genes, for example in humans, include the kappa (κ), lambda (λ), and heavy chain genetic loci, which together comprise the myriad variable region genes, and the constant region genes mu (μ), delta (δ), gamma (γ), epsilon (ϵ), and alpha (α) which encode the IgM, IgD, IgG, IgE, and IgA isotypes, respectively. “Antibody” as used herein is meant to include full length antibodies and antibody fragments, and may refer to a natural antibody from any organism, an engineered antibody, or an antibody generated recombinantly for experimental, therapeutic, or other purposes as further defined below. Thus, the term “antibody raised against a compound” includes a synthesized antibody or compound having the same structure as an antibody raised against the compound. The term “antibody” includes antibody fragments, as are known in the art, such as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂, Fv, scFv, or other antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies, either produced by the modification of whole antibodies or those synthesized de novo using recombinant DNA technologies. The term “antibody” refers to both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Antibodies can be antagonists, agonists, neutralizing, inhibitory, or stimulatory.

As used herein, the term “polyclonal antibody” refers to a heterogeneous mixture of antibodies with a wide range of specificities and affinities to a given antigen or epitope. Thus, the polyclonal antibody, which can also be referred to as polyclonal antibodies, can include a plurality of antibodies, each distinguishable from the others, that bind or otherwise interact with an antigen. The term “polyclonal” refers to antibodies originating from multiple progenitor cells. The different antibodies that comprise a polyclonal antibody can be produced or generated by injecting an immunogen having an epitope into an animal and, after an appropriate time, collecting and optionally purifying the blood fraction containing the antibodies of interest. In producing antibodies, several parameters can be considered with respect to the final use for the polyclonal antibody. These parameters include the following: (1) the specificity of the antibody (i.e., the ability to distinguish between antigens); (2) the avidity of the antibody (i.e., the strength of binding an epitope); and (3) the titer of the antibody, which determines the optimal dilution of the antibody in the assay system.

As used herein, the term “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody that is isolated from a culture of normal antibody-producing cells and one unique progenitor cell. A monoclonal antibody can have a homogeneous binding constant. The monoclonal antibodies include an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally-occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed against a single antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional (polyclonal) antibody preparations which typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is directed against a single determinant on the antigen.

The monoclonal antibodies include hybrid and recombinant antibodies produced by splicing a variable (including hypervariable) domain of an anti-inhibitor antibody with a constant domain, or a light chain with a heavy chain, or a chain from one species with a chain from another species, or fusions with heterologous proteins, regardless of species of origin or immunoglobulin class or subclass designation, as well as antibody fragments, e.g., Fab, F(ab)2, and Fv1, that exhibit the desired biological activity. For example, the monoclonal antibodies may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler & Milstein, Nature, 256:495 (1975), or may be made by recombinant DNA methods (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567). The “monoclonal antibodies” may also be isolated from phage libraries generated using the techniques described in, e.g., McCafferty et al., Nature, 348:552-554 (1990).

Antigen

“Antigen”, as used herein, refers to a compound that binds specifically to the variable region or binding site of an antibody. The term “antigen” and “immunogen” may in some cases be used interchangeably.

Epitope

The term “epitope” refers to a region of an antigen that interacts with an antibody molecule. An antigenic molecule can have one or more epitopes that can be recognized by the same or different antibodies. An epitope or epitopic moiety may comprise a unique chemical configuration of an antigen, hapten or a reactive ligand. The chemical configuration may be a linear sequence of chemical composition or even a spatial array of chemical groups in the chemical configuration. An epitope is the chemical configuration that associates directly with the binding site in the antibody molecule. The antibody and the chemical group, hapten or reacting ligand containing the epitope form the “specific binding pair.”

Immunogen

As used herein, the terms “immunogen” and “immunogenic” are meant to refer to substances capable of producing or generating an immune response (e.g., antibody response) in an organism. An immunogen can also be antigen. In some embodiments, the immunogen has a high molecular weight (e.g., greater than 10,000). Thus, a variety of macromolecules such as proteins, lipoproteins, polysaccharides, nucleic acids and teichoic acids can be coupled to a hapten in order to form an immunogen in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “immunogenicity” refers to the ability of a molecule to induce an immune response, which is determined both by the intrinsic chemical structure of the molecule and by whether or not the host animal can recognize the compound. Small changes in the structure of an antigen can greatly alter the immunogenicity of a compound and have been used extensively as a general procedure to increase the chances of raising an antibody, particularly against well-conserved antigens. For example, these modification techniques can alter regions of the immunogen to provide better sites for T-cell binding or expose new epitopes for B-cell binding.

Immunogenic Carrier

“Immunogenic carrier”, “carrier,” or “immunogenic moiety,” as used herein, refers to any material that when combined with a hapten stimulates an in vitro or in vivo immune response. A hapten becomes an immunogenic moiety when coupled to a carrier and a part of the immunogen can induce an immune response and elicit the production of antibodies that can bind specifically with the hapten. Immunogenic carrier moieties include proteins, peptides (including polypeptides), glycoproteins, saccharides including complex polysaccharides, particles, nucleic acids, polynucleotides, and the like that are recognized as foreign and thereby elicit an immunologic response from the host.

Inhibitory Antibody

An inhibitory antibody is an antibody capable of inhibiting the activity of an enzyme or an enzyme-ligand conjugate upon binding an epitope present on the enzyme. Inhibitory antibodies are distinguished from anti-ligand antibodies capable of inhibiting the enzyme activity of enzyme-ligand conjugates upon binding to the ligand.

Accuracy

The term “accuracy” refers to the closeness of the agreement between the result of a measurand and a true value of the measurand. The measurand is the substance measured or analyzed, such as the analyte or the ligand entering the binding reaction with the receptor or antibody.

Specificity

The term “specificity” or “selectivity” refers to the preferential binding of a ligand to a receptor (e.g., antibody). Thus, specificity may refer, in one embodiment, to the degree that posaconazole is bound selectively by an antibody. One measure of the specificity of a receptor to a ligand is crossreactivity. Compounds that cross-react are referred to as “crossreactants.” Crossreactants may occur as the result of the biotransformation of posaconazole by the human body to a metabolite, such as posaconazole being biotransformed into a glucoronide derivative of posaconazole. Anti-posaconazole antibodies of the present disclosure include those that bind an epitope of posaconazole, but that do not detectably bind a metabolite of posaconazole, such as a glucoronide derivative of posaconazole.

Sensitivity

The term “sensitivity” is used herein to describe a detection limit, e.g., the smallest amount of an analyte that results in a detectable signal that is distinguishable from a signal obtained in the absence of analyte.

Reagent

A reagent is a substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction, or added to see if a reaction occurs.

Isolated

As used herein, the term “isolated,” when used in the context of an isolated compound, antibody, conjugate, etc., refers to a compound of interest (e.g., a compound as described herein, a conjugate as described herein, an antibody as described herein, etc.) that is in an environment different from that in which the compound naturally occurs. “Isolated” is meant to include compounds of interest (e.g., a compound as described herein, a conjugate as described herein, or an antibody as described herein) that are within samples that are substantially enriched for the compound of interest and/or in which the compound of interest is partially or substantially purified. As used herein, the term “substantially pure” refers to a compound of interest that is removed from its natural environment and is 60% or more free, 75% or more free, 90% or more free, 95% or more free, 98% or more free, or 99% or more free from other components with which it is naturally associated, and/or with which it may be associated during synthesis or production.

Certain compounds disclosed herein in connection with embodiments possess asymmetric carbon atoms (optical centers) or double bonds. The racemates, diastereomers, geometric isomers and individual isomers of these compounds are encompassed within the scope of the embodiments.

The compounds may be prepared as a single isomer (e.g., enantiomer, cis-trans, positional, diastereomer) or as a mixture of isomers. In one embodiment, the compounds are prepared as substantially a single isomer. Methods of preparing substantially isomerically pure compounds are known in the art. For example, enantiomerically enriched mixtures and pure enantiomeric compounds can be prepared by using synthetic intermediates that are enantiomerically pure in combination with reactions that either leave the stereochemistry at a chiral center unchanged or result in its complete inversion. Alternatively, the final product or intermediates along the synthetic route can be resolved into a single stereoisomer. Techniques for inverting or leaving unchanged a particular stereocenter, and those for resolving mixtures of stereoisomers are well known in the art and it is well within the ability of one of skill in the art to choose an appropriate method for a particular situation. See, generally, Furniss et al. (eds.), Vogel's Encyclopedia of Practical Organic Chemistry, 5th ed., Longman Scientific and Technical Ltd., Essex, 1991, pp. 809-816; and Heller, Acc. Chem. Res. 23: 128 (1990).

Where substituent groups are specified by their conventional chemical formulae, written from left to right, they equally encompass the chemically identical substituents, which would result from writing the structure from right to left, e.g., —CH₂O— is intended to also recite —OCH₂—. Use of a single dash (“—”) or double dash (“—” or “——”) refers to a single covalent bond, while use of “═” refers to a double bond. The symbol, )₂ or ₂(, when displayed with —S, indicates that the compound inside the parenthesis may be present as a dimer forming a disulfide bond. The dimer may be reduced to a monomer.

Acyl or Alkanoyl

The term “acyl” or “alkanoyl” by itself or in combination with another term, means, unless otherwise stated, a stable straight or branched chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, or combinations thereof, having the stated number of carbon atoms and an acyl radical on at least one terminus of the alkane radical. The “acyl radical” is the group derived from a carboxylic acid by removing the —OH moiety therefrom.

Alkyl

The term “alkyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent means, unless otherwise stated, a straight or branched chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, or combination thereof, which may be fully saturated, mono- or polyunsaturated and can include divalent (“alkylene”) and multivalent radicals, having the number of carbon atoms designated (i.e., C₁-C₁₀ means one to ten carbons). Examples of saturated hydrocarbon radicals include, but are not limited to, groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, cyclohexyl, (cyclohexyl)methyl, cyclopropylmethyl, homologs and isomers of, for example, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, and the like. An unsaturated alkyl group is one having one or more double bonds or triple bonds. Examples of unsaturated alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, vinyl, 2-propenyl, crotyl, 2-isopentenyl, 2-(butadienyl), 2,4-pentadienyl, 3-(1,4-pentadienyl), ethynyl, 1- and 3-propynyl, 3-butynyl, and the higher homologs and isomers. The term “alkyl,” unless otherwise noted, is also meant to include those derivatives of alkyl defined in more detail below, such as “heteroalkyl.”, where “heteroalkyl” refers to carbon chains having one or more substitutions at one or more carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon chain fragment. Alkyl groups that are limited to hydrocarbon groups are termed “homoalkyl”. Certain alkyl groups include those containing between about one and about twenty five carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl, and the like).

Lower Alkyl

The term “lower alkyl” generally refers to a straight, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon chain containing 8 or fewer carbon atoms, and can contain from 1 to 8, from 1 to 6, or from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Certain “lower alkyl” groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl and the like. “Lower alkyls” can be optionally substituted at one or more carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon chain.

Alkoxy, Alkylamino and Alkylthio

The terms “alkoxy,” “alkylamino” and “alkylthio” (or thioalkoxy) are used to refer to those alkyl groups attached to the remainder of the molecule via an oxygen atom, an amino group, or a sulfur atom, respectively.

Heteroatom

By “heteroatom” is meant atoms other than a carbon which may be present in a carbon backbone or a linear, branched or cyclic compound. Certain heteroatoms include oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si). Heteroatoms can be present in their reduced forms, e.g., —OH, —NH, and —SH.

Heteroalkyl

The term “heteroalkyl,” by itself or in combination with another term, means, unless otherwise stated, a straight or branched chain, or cyclic carbon-containing radical, or combinations thereof, having the stated number of carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom which can be a member selected from O, N, Si, P and S, where the nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur atoms are optionally oxidized, and the nitrogen heteroatom is optionally quaternized. Normally heteroalkyl groups contain no more than two heteroatoms linked in sequence. The heteroatom(s) O, N, P, S and Si may be placed at any interior position of the heteroalkyl group or at the position at which the alkyl group is attached to the remainder of the molecule. Examples include, but are not limited to, —CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—N(CH₃)—CH₃, —CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—S(O)—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—S(O)₂—CH₃, —CH═CH—O—CH₃, —Si(CH₃)₃, —CH₂—CH═N—OCH₃, and —CH═CH—N(CH₃)—CH₃. Generally, up to two heteroatoms may be consecutive, such as, for example, —CH₂—NH—OCH₃ and —CH₂—O—Si(CH₃)₃.

Heteroalkylene

Similarly, the term “heteroalkylene” by itself or as part of another substituent means a divalent radical derived from heteroalkyl, as exemplified, but not limited by, —CH₂—CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₂— and —CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₂—. For heteroalkylene groups, heteroatoms can also occupy either or both of the chain termini (e.g., alkyleneoxy, alkylenedioxy, alkyleneamino, alkylenediamino, and the like). Still further, for alkylene and heteroalkylene linking groups, no orientation of the linking group is implied by the direction in which the formula of the linking group is written. For example, the formula —C(O)₂R′— represents both —C(O)₂R′— and R′C(O)₂—.

Cycloalkyl and Heterocycloalkyl

The terms “cycloalkyl” and “heterocycloalkyl”, by themselves or in combination with other terms, represent, unless otherwise stated, cyclic versions of “alkyl” and “heteroalkyl”, respectively. Additionally, for heterocycloalkyl, a heteroatom can occupy the position at which the heterocycle is attached to the remainder of the molecule. Examples of cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 1-cyclohexenyl, 3-cyclohexenyl, cycloheptyl, and the like. Examples of heterocycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, 1-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridyl), 1-piperidinyl, 2-piperidinyl, 3-piperidinyl, 4-morpholinyl, 3-morpholinyl, tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, tetrahydrofuran-3-yl, tetrahydrothien-2-yl, tetrahydrothien-3-yl, 1-piperazinyl, 2-piperazinyl, and the like.

Aryl

The term “aryl” means, unless otherwise stated, a polyunsaturated, aromatic moiety that can be a single ring or multiple rings (usually from 1 to 3 rings), which are fused together or linked covalently. The term “heteroaryl” refers to aryl groups (or rings) that contain from one to four heteroatoms which are members selected from N, O, and S, wherein the nitrogen and sulfur atoms are optionally oxidized, and the nitrogen atom(s) are optionally quaternized. A heteroaryl group can be attached to the remainder of the molecule through a heteroatom. Non-limiting examples of aryl and heteroaryl groups include phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 4-biphenyl, 1-pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, pyrazinyl, 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl, 2-phenyl-4-oxazolyl, 5-oxazolyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isoxazolyl, 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidyl, 4-pyrimidyl, 5-benzothiazolyl, purinyl, 2-benzimidazolyl, 5-indolyl, 1-isoquinolyl, 5-isoquinolyl, 2-quinoxalinyl, 5-quinoxalinyl, 3-quinolyl, tetrazolyl, benzo[b]furanyl, benzo[b]thienyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl, benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl and 6-quinolyl. Substituents for each of the above noted aryl and heteroaryl ring systems are selected from the group of acceptable substituents described below.

For brevity, the term “aryl” when used in combination with other terms (e.g., aryloxy, arylthioxy, arylalkyl) includes both aryl and heteroaryl rings as defined above. Thus, the term “arylalkyl” is meant to include those radicals in which an aryl group is attached to an alkyl group (e.g., benzyl, phenethyl, pyridylmethyl, and the like) including those alkyl groups in which a carbon atom (e.g., a methylene group) has been replaced by, for example, an oxygen atom (e.g., phenoxymethyl, 2-pyridyloxymethyl, 3-(1-naphthyloxy)propyl, and the like).

Each of the above terms (e.g., “alkyl,” “heteroalkyl,” “aryl” and “heteroaryl”) includes both substituted and unsubstituted forms of the indicated radical. Certain substituents for each type of radical are provided below.

Substituents for the alkyl and heteroalkyl radicals (including those groups often referred to as alkylene, alkenyl, heteroalkylene, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and heterocycloalkenyl) are generically referred to as “alkyl group substituents,” and they can be one or more of a variety of groups selected from, but not limited to: —OR′, ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′, —NR′R″, —SR′, -halogen, —SiR′R″R′″, —OC(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CO₂R′, —CONR′R″, —OC(O)NR′R″, —NR″C(O)R′, —NR′—C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″C(O)₂R′, —NR—C(NR′R″R′″)═NR″″, —NR—C(NR′R″)═NR′″, —S(O)R′, —S(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —NRSO₂R′, —CN and —NO₂ in a number ranging from zero to (2m′+1), where m′ is the total number of carbon atoms in such radical. R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ each can independently refer to hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, e.g., aryl substituted with 1-3 halogens, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy groups, or arylalkyl groups. When a compound of the embodiments includes more than one R group, for example, each of the R groups is independently selected, as are each R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ groups, when more than one of these groups is present. When R′ and R″ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, they can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring. For example, —NR′R″ is meant to include, but not be limited to, 1-pyrrolidinyl and 4-morpholinyl. From the above discussion of substituents, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the term “alkyl” is meant to include groups including carbon atoms bound to groups other than hydrogen groups, such as haloalkyl (e.g., —CF₃ and —CH₂CF₃) and acyl (e.g., —C(O)CH₃, —C(O)CF₃, —C(O)CH₂OCH₃, and the like).

Similar to the substituents described for the alkyl radical, substituents for the aryl and heteroaryl groups are generically referred to as “aryl group substituents.” The substituents are selected from, for example: halogen, —OR′, ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′, —NR′R″, —SR′, -halogen, —SiR′R″R′″, —OC(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CO₂R′, —CONR′R″, —OC(O)NR′R″, —NR″C(O)R′, —NR′—C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″C(O)₂R′, —NR—C(NR′R″R′″)═NR″″, —NR—C(NR′R″)═NR′″, —S(O)R′, —S(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —NRSO₂R′, —CN and —NO₂, —R′, —N₃, —CH(Ph)₂, fluoro(C₁-C₄)alkoxy, and fluoro(C₁-C₄)alkyl, in a number ranging from zero to the total number of open valences on the aromatic ring system; and where R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ can be independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl. When a compound of the embodiments includes more than one R group, for example, each of the R groups is independently selected, as are each R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ groups, when more than one of these groups is present.

Amino and Amine Group

The term “amino” or “amine group” refers to the group —NR′R″ (or N⁺RR′R″) where R, R′ and R″ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aryl alkyl, substituted aryl alkyl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl. A substituted amine is an amine group wherein R′ or R″ is other than hydrogen. In a primary amino group, both R′ and R″ are hydrogen, whereas in a secondary amino group, either, but not both, R′ or R″ is hydrogen. In addition, the terms “amine” and “amino” can include protonated and quaternized versions of nitrogen, comprising the group —N⁺RR′R″ and its biologically compatible anionic counterions.

Polypeptide

“Polypeptide” as used herein is meant to encompass a polyaminoacid of any length, and encompasses proteins, protein fragments and peptides. Polypeptides may be genetically encoded or synthetically produced. Polypeptides may also be modified, e.g., by post-translational and/or chemical modification(s).

Detectable Label

As used herein, a “detectable label” generally refers to an identifying tag that can provide for a detectable signal, e.g., luminescence (e.g., photoluminescence (e.g., fluorescence, phosphorescence), chemoluminescence (e.g., bioluminescence), microparticle aggregation or formation, radioactivity, immunodetection, enzymatic activity, and the like.

Detectably Labeled Antibody

By “detectably labeled antibody” is meant an antibody (which, as defined above, includes antigen-binding fragments, etc.) having an attached detectable label. The detectable label may be attached by chemical conjugation, but where the label is a polypeptide, it could alternatively be attached by genetic engineering techniques. Various methods for production of detectably labeled proteins may be used. Detectable labels may be selected from a variety of such labels known in the art, but normally are radioisotopes, fluorophores, enzymes (e.g., horseradish peroxidase), or other moieties or compounds which either emit a detectable signal (e.g., radioactivity, fluorescence, color) or emit a detectable signal after exposure of the label to its substrate. Various detectable label/substrate pairs (e.g. horseradish peroxidase/diaminobenzidine, avidin/streptavidin, luciferase/luciferin), methods for labeling antibodies, and methods for using labeled antibodies to detect an antigen may be used.

Antibody-Analyte Complex and Antibody-Antigen Complex

“Antibody-analyte complex”, “antibody-antigen complex” generally refers to a complex that results following specific binding of an antibody and its antigen or analyte, e.g., between an anti-posaconazole antibody and posaconazole (or a posaconazole fragment, e.g., posaconazole conjugate).

Assessing

The term “assessing” includes any form of measurement, and includes determining the presence or absence if an element. The terms “assessing”, “determining” (e.g., as in “determining the presence or absence of”), “measuring”, “evaluating”, and “assaying” are used interchangeably and include quantitative and qualitative determinations. Assessing may be relative or absolute. “Assessing the presence of” includes determining the amount of something present, and/or determining whether it is present or absent. As used herein, the terms “determining,” “measuring,” and “assessing,” and “assaying” are used interchangeably and include both quantitative and qualitative determinations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before embodiments are described, it is to be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the particular embodiments described and, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present disclosure will be limited only by the appended claims.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller range between any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the embodiments. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in the range, and each range where either, neither or both limits are included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the embodiments, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the embodiments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the embodiments, some methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. It is understood that the present disclosure supersedes any disclosure of an incorporated publication to the extent there is a contradiction.

It is also noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a conjugate” includes a plurality of such conjugates and reference to “the sample” includes reference to one or more samples and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present application is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

Immunoassays

Immunoassays (also known as immunodiagnostic test systems) measure a ligand or target analyte, the measurand (e.g., posaconazole), by using the selective binding properties of an antibody and a signal generating system that includes a signal generating moiety that is responsive or reactive to the presence of antibody due to the binding of the antibody with a specific binding pair (sbp) member (e.g., hapten) conjugated to the signal generating moiety. Three classes of immunoassay are as follows: (1) antibody capture assays; (2) antigen capture assays; and (3) two-antibody sandwich assays. Additionally, it is contemplated that new immunoassays may be developed that are capable of employing the sbp members (e.g., hapten derivatives) and antibodies that form the specific binding pair of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Homogeneous enzyme immunoassays use enzyme-sbp member conjugates whose enzyme activity can be modulated upon binding of the sbp partner. In one aspect, the embodiments provide enzyme-sbp member conjugates and antibodies for conducting assays that are useful in immunoassays. In certain embodiments, the immunoassay is a homogeneous immunoassay, where the term “homogeneous immunoassay”, as used herein, refers to an assay method where the specific binding pair complex is typically in solution and not separated from unreacted reaction components, but instead the presence of the complex is detected by a property which at least one of the reactants acquires or loses as a result of being incorporated into the complex. Homogeneous assays include systems involving fluorochrome and fluorochrome quenching pairs on different reagents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,996,345; 4,161,515; 4,256,834 and 4,264,968); enzyme and enzyme inhibitor pairs on different reagents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,208,479 and 4,233,401); chromophore and chromophore modifier pairs on different reagents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,479); and latex agglutination assays (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,088,875; 3,551,555; 4,205,954 and 4,351,824).

In certain embodiments, immunogens, such as immunogens that include a protein (e.g., an immunogenic carrier protein) conjugated to a posaconazole fragment (e.g., a posaconazole fragment according to a compound of Formula 1 herein), may be synthesized and used to prepare antibodies specific for posaconazole. The anti-posaconazole antibodies may be used in methods for detecting posaconazole in samples suspected of containing posaconazole.

In certain embodiments, label conjugates may be prepared and employed in the immunoassays described herein. The label conjugates may include a label conjugated to a posaconazole fragment (e.g., a posaconazole fragment according to a compound of Formula 1 herein). In certain embodiments, the immunoassays may facilitate the screening of samples for the presence of posaconazole.

The anti-posaconazole antibodies, either monoclonal or polyclonal, can be used in immunoassays for identifying the presence of posaconazole in a biological sample, such as blood, plasma, serum, urine, tissue, and the like. Immunoassays may facilitate identifying or determining pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic parameters for posaconazole in a patient or patient population. The anti-posaconazole antibodies can be used in immunodiagnostic assays configured for identifying the presence and optionally quantifying the amount of posaconazole in a sample. Additionally, the immunodiagnostic assays can use posaconazole fragments in accordance with embodiments as described herein.

Posaconazole Fragment

The chemical structure of posaconazole (1) is shown in FIG. 1. In some instances, posaconazole primarily circulates as the parent compound in plasma. In some instances, of the circulating metabolites, the majority are glucuronide conjugates formed via UDP glucuronidation (phase 2 enzymes). In certain cases, posaconazole is not substantially oxidized to oxidative (CYP450 mediated) metabolites. In some embodiments, posaconazole antibodies as described herein do not detectably bind a posaconazole metabolite. In some instances, the posaconazole antibodies have a cross-reactivity with a posaconazole metabolite of 25% or less, such as 20% or less, including 15% or less, or 10% or less, or 5% or less, or 3% or less, or 1% or less with respect to binding to posaconazole. For instance, the posaconazole antibodies may have a cross-reactivity with a posaconazole metabolite of 10% or less with respect to binding to posaconazole.

In certain embodiments, posaconazole antibodies as described herein do not substantially cross-react with other triazoles, such as fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole. For example, in certain instances, more than one antifungal triazole may be present in a sample when a subject is switched from one treatment to another. As such, in certain embodiments, posaconazole antibodies as described herein do not substantially cross-react with other triazoles in order to quantitate posaconazole in the sample. For instance, in some embodiments, the posaconazole antibodies have a cross-reactivity with other triazoles (e.g., fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole) of 10% or less, such as 5% or less, or 3% or less, or 1% or less, or 0.5% or less, or 0.1% or less each with respect to binding to posaconazole. In some embodiments, the posaconazole antibodies have a cross-reactivity with fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole of 0.1% or less each with respect to binding to posaconazole.

In certain embodiments, posaconazole fragments may be used to develop a specific assay for posaconazole. In some instances, a posaconazole fragment (2) is a hapten, where a portion of the chemical structure of posaconazole is included in the posaconazole fragment and used to prepare immunogens and raise antibodies to posaconazole. In certain cases, attachment of the hapten (see e.g., FIG. 3, POS-IV) to a carrier protein was through a site on posaconazole fragment (2) remote from the targeted moiety used to raise selective antibodies specific to posaconazole.

In certain embodiments, the posaconazole fragment described herein may be used in immunogens and label conjugates of the present disclosure. For instance, the immunogens and label conjugates may include the fragment POS-IV.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a compound of Formula I shown below:

wherein

-   -   R is CH₂, NH, NHCO, S or O;     -   Y is a linking group; and     -   Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OH, —SH,         —S-acyl; —O-lower alkyl, halogen, —NH₂, epoxy, maleimidyl,         haloacetamide, carboxyl, activated carboxyl, an immunogenic         carrier, a protein, and a label, and salts thereof.

In certain embodiments, the activated carboxyl is an activated form of carboxyl including, but not limited to, hydroxysuccinimidyl, succinimidyl, carbonate, anhydride and imidate. In certain embodiments, the activated carboxyl is hydroxysuccinimidyl. In certain embodiments, the activated carboxyl is succinimidyl. In certain embodiments, the activated carboxyl is a carbonate. In certain embodiments, the activated carboxyl is an anhydride. In certain embodiments, the activated carboxyl is an imidate.

In certain embodiments, R is CH₂, NH, NHCO, S or O. In certain embodiments, R is CH₂ In certain embodiments, R is NH. In certain embodiments, R is NHCO. In certain embodiments, R is S. In certain embodiments, R is O.

In certain embodiments, Y is a linking group, as described in more detail below.

In certain embodiments, Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OH, —SH, —S-acyl; —O-lower alkyl, halogen, —NH₂, epoxy, maleimidyl, haloacetamide, carboxyl, and activated carboxyl. In certain embodiments, Z is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —SH, halogen, —NH₂, maleimidyl, carboxyl, and activated carboxyl. In certain embodiments, Z is carboxyl or activated carboxyl. In certain embodiments, Z is carboxyl. In certain embodiments, Z is activated carboxyl. In certain embodiments, Z is hydroxysuccinimidyl. In certain embodiments, Z is succinimidyl. In certain embodiments, Z is halogen, such as F, Cl, Br or I. In certain embodiments, Z is bromo. In certain embodiments, Z is —NH₂. In certain embodiments, Z is —SH.

In certain embodiments, Z is an immunogenic carrier. Examples of immunogenic carriers include proteins, peptides, glycoproteins, saccharides, particles, nucleic acids, and polynucleotides. In certain embodiments, Z is an immunogenic carrier is a protein. Examples of immunogenic carrier proteins include, but are not limited to, hemocyanins, globulins, and albumins. Examples of certain immunogenic carrier proteins include keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA), or human serum albumin (HSA). In certain embodiments, Z is an immunogenic carrier protein is selected from BSA and KLH. In certain embodiments, the immunogenic carrier is a polysaccharide.

In certain embodiments, Z is a label. Examples of labels for Z include, but are not limited to, isotopic labels and non-isotopic labels (e.g., signal generating moieties). Examples of isotopic labels include, but are not limited to, ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ³²P, ³³P, ³⁵S, ¹²⁵I, and the like. Examples of non-isotopic labels include signal generating moieties, such as, but not limited to, fluorophores and enzymes, which are described in further detail below.

In certain embodiments, the label is a fluorophore. Certain fluorophores include, but are not limited to, naphthalene derivatives (e.g., dansyl chloride), anthracene derivatives (e.g., N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of anthracene propionate), pyrene derivatives (e.g., N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of pyrene butyrate), fluorescein derivatives (e.g., fluorescein isothiocyanate), rhodamine derivatives (e.g., rhodamine isothiocyanate), phycoerythin, Texas Red, and the like.

In certain embodiments, the label is an enzyme. Certain enzymes include, but are not limited to, alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase, lysozyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), lactate dehydrogenase, β-galactosidase, and urease. Also, a genetically engineered fragment of an enzyme may be used, such as the donor and acceptor fragment of β-galactosidase utilized in CEDIA immunoassays. In certain embodiments, the enzyme is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, or horseradish peroxidase. In certain embodiments, the enzyme is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH).

In certain embodiments, R is CH₂, Y is a linking group, such as an alkylene linking group (e.g., a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene linking group), and Z is a carboxyl or activated carboxyl. For example, in certain instances, R is CH₂, Y is an alkylene linking group that includes one carbon atom (e.g., a CH₂ group), and Z is a carboxyl. In certain embodiments, Formula 1 is a compound of the formula:

In certain embodiments, in Formula 1, R is CH₂, Y is a linking group, such as an alkylene linking group (e.g., a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene linking group), and Z is a carboxyl or activated carboxyl. For example, in certain instances, R is CH₂, Y is an alkylene linking group that includes one carbon atom (e.g., a CH₂ group), and Z is an activated carboxyl, such as an activated carboxyl that includes a hydroxysuccinimidyl. In certain embodiments, Formula 1 is a compound of the formula:

Linking Group

A linking group (also referred to herein as a linker) has at least 1 uninterrupted chain of atoms extending between the substructures, as depicted as Y in Formula 1. The atoms of a linking group are themselves connected by chemical bonds. The number of atoms in a linking group is determined by counting the atoms other than hydrogen. In some embodiments, the linking group is a part of the compound of the embodiments. In some embodiments, the linker can provide a connection between, for example, the posaconazole fragment (2) as shown in FIG. 1 and the Z group as shown in a compound of Formula 1.

The compounds may be connected to other species by bonding between a reactive functional group on the compound or a linker attached to the compound, and a reactive functional group of complementary reactivity on the other species. A linker may be, for example, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, and combinations thereof. A linker may also include cyclic and/or aromatic groups as part of the chain or as a substitution on one of the atoms in the chain. In some embodiments, the linker may be used to provide an available site on a hapten for conjugating the hapten with, for example, a label, carrier, immunogenic carrier, or the like. The linker molecule may be used to connect (conjugate or couple) the ligand, hapten, epitope or epitopic moiety to its immunogenic carrier or signal generating moiety and to display the ligand, hapten, epitope or epitopic moiety for binding to a receptor or antibody. The length of the linker may be varied to accomplish the desired outcome in producing the immunogen or the signal generating system.

In certain embodiments of Formula 1, the linking group includes 1 to 15 atoms and may include a chain of 1 to 8 atoms, each independently selected from the group consisting of carbon, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, halogen and phosphorous. Examples of linking groups include —(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, —C(O)(CH₂)_(n)—, —C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, —C(O)(CH₂)_(n)—NHC(O)—, —C(O)(CH₂)_(n)—NHC(O)(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)SCH₂C(O)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)NH—(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—NH—C(O)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—NH—C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—, —C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)O—, or —C(O)—(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)NH—, where n is an integer from 1 to 10, and including salts thereof.

In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—, where n is an integer from one to ten. In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—, where n is an integer from one to six. In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—, where n is one or two. In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—, where n is one.

In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, where n is an integer from one to ten. In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, where n is an integer from one to six. In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, where n is one or two. In certain embodiments, the linking group is —(CH₂)_(n)—C(O)—, where n is one.

The number of heteroatoms in the linking group may range from 0 to 6, such as from 1 to 5 heteroatoms. The linking group may be aliphatic or aromatic. When heteroatoms are present, oxygen may be present as oxo or oxy, bonded to carbon, sulfur, nitrogen or phosphorous; nitrogen may be present as nitro, nitroso or amino, and may be bonded to carbon, oxygen, sulfur or phosphorous; sulfur may be present in analogous functional groups to oxygen; phosphorous may be bonded to carbon, sulfur, oxygen or nitrogen, such as phosphonate and phosphate mono- or diester. In certain embodiments, functionalities in forming a covalent bond between the linking group and the molecule to be conjugated include, but are not limited to, alkylamine, amidine, thioamide, ether, urea, thiourea, guanidine, azo, thioether, carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate ester, amide and thioesters.

In certain embodiments, when a linking group has a non-oxocarbonyl group including nitrogen and sulfur analogs, a phosphate group, an amino group, alkylating agent such as halo or tosylalkyl, oxy (hydroxyl or the sulfur analog, mercapto) oxocarbonyl (e.g., aldehyde or ketone), or active olefin such as a vinyl sulfone or α-, β-unsaturated ester, these functionalities may be linked to amine groups, carboxyl groups, active olefins, alkylating agents, e.g., bromoacetyl. In certain embodiments, where an amine and carboxylic acid or its nitrogen derivative or phosphoric acid is linked, amides, amidines and phosphoramides are formed. In certain embodiments, where mercaptan and activated olefin are linked, thioethers are formed. In certain embodiments, where a mercaptan and an alkylating agent are linked, thioethers are formed. In certain embodiments, where aldehyde and an amine are linked under reducing conditions, an alkylamine is formed. In certain embodiments, where a carboxylic acid or phosphate acid and an alcohol are linked, esters are formed. Various linking agents are described in, for example, Cautrecasas, J. Biol. Chem. (1970) 245:3059.

Linking groups that link a carrier to a hapten can include modified or unmodified nucleotides, nucleosides, polymers, sugars and other carbohydrates, polyethers, such as for example, polyethylene glycols, polyalcohols, polypropylenes, propylene glycols, mixtures of ethylene and propylene glycols, polyalkylamines, polyamines such as spermidine, polyesters such as poly(ethyl acrylate), polyphosphodiesters, and alkylenes. An example of an operative group and its linker is cholesterol-TEG-phosphoramidite, wherein the cholesterol is the operative group and the tetraethylene glycol and phosphate serve as linkers.

In some embodiments, the immunogenic carrier is a protein. Protein carriers can be highly soluble and include functional groups that may facilitate conjugation with a hapten molecule. In certain embodiments, the immunogenic carrier is selected from keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and human serum albumin (HSA). KLH is a large oxygen-carrying protein of the marine keyhole limpet and exhibits increased immunogenicity when it is disassociated into subunits. BSA is a highly soluble protein containing numerous functional groups suitable for conjugation.

Fragments

Fragments of posaconazole in accordance with some embodiments can be used to compete for binding with a receptor including an antibody that recognizes both the fragment and posaconazole. A fragment can include an operative group coupled to a posaconazole or posaconazole fragment through a linker. Thus, the embodiments provide for posaconazole fragments linked to, for example, an immunogenic carrier and/or a signal generating moiety as operative groups.

Signal Producing System

The signal producing system is utilized in assays for analytes and may have one or more components. In certain embodiments, the component is a mutant G6PDH. The signal producing system may be configured to generate a signal that relates to the presence or amount of analyte in a sample. The signal producing system may include reagents for producing a measurable signal. In some instances, the G6PDH or a label protein including alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase and horse radish peroxidase is conjugated to a sbp member analogous to the analyte.

Other components of the signal producing system can include substrates, enhancers, activators, chemiluminescent compounds, cofactors, inhibitors, scavengers, metal ions, specific binding substances required for binding of signal generating substances, coenzymes, substances that react with enzymic products, other enzymes and catalysts, and the like.

The signal producing system provides a signal detectable by external means, normally by measurement of electromagnetic radiation, such as a signal detectable by visual examination. In some cases, the signal producing system may include a chromophoric substrate and mutant G6PDH enzyme, where chromophoric substrates are enzymatically converted to dyes which absorb light in the ultraviolet or visible region.

Substantial Change in Enzyme Activity

A substantial change in activity of an enzyme is a change in enzyme activity sufficient to allow detection of an analyte when the enzyme is used as a label in an assay for the analyte. In some embodiments, the activity of the enzyme is reduced by 10-100%, such as reduced by 20-99%, including reduced by 30-95%.

Ancillary Materials

Various ancillary materials may be employed in an assay in accordance with the embodiments. For example, buffers may be present in the assay medium. In some instances, stabilizers for the assay medium and the assay components may be included. In certain embodiments, additional proteins may be included, such as albumins, or surfactants, such as non-ionic surfactants, binding enhancers, e.g., polyalkylene glycols, and the like.

Anti-Posaconazole Antibodies

As described above, the term “antibody” as used herein, refers to a specific binding partner of an analyte (e.g., posaconazole), and is meant to encompass whole antibodies as well as antigen-binding fragments thereof (such as, for example, F(ab′)2, Fab′, Fab and Fv), naturally occurring antibodies, hybrid antibodies, chimeric antibodies, single-chain antibodies, and antibody fragments that retain antigen binding specificity, and the like. Antibodies can be of any class (e.g., IgM, IgG, IgA, IgE; frequently IgG) and generated from any source (although usually non-human, such as a non-human mammal, such as a rabbit, mouse, rat, goat, etc.). Thus, “antibody” is meant to encompass not only intact immunoglobulin molecules, but also such fragments and derivatives of immunoglobulin molecules, and retaining the antibody activity of an intact immunoglobulin.

Antibodies may be derived from polyclonal compositions or monoclonal compositions. As noted above, “antibodies” is also meant to encompass single chain antibodies or scFvs, where such recombinantly produced antibody fragments retain the binding characteristics of the antibodies. Recombinantly produced antibody fragments within the meaning of “antibody” generally include at least the VH and VL domains of the subject antibodies, so as to retain the binding characteristics of the subject antibodies. These recombinantly produced antibody fragments may be readily prepared using any convenient methodology, such as the methodology disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,851,829 and 5,965,371, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Anti-posaconazole antibodies include those that bind one or more posaconazole epitopes. Anti-posaconazole antibodies may bind one or more of unconjugated posaconazole, a posaconazole fragment, a posaconazole conjugate, a posaconazole fragment conjugate, or any combination thereof. The disclosure encompasses an antibody reactive to a common epitope present in posaconazole and compounds shown in Formula 1. Such antibodies can thus bind a posaconazole epitope as present in posaconazole and a posaconazole moiety (e.g., a posaconazole fragment) as present in a compound of Formula 1.

Producing Anti-Posaconazole Antibodies

Anti-posaconazole antibodies can be prepared by using an immunogenic posaconazole conjugate described herein and applying methods for antibody production. Examples of general techniques used in raising, purifying and modifying antibodies, and the design and execution of immunoassays are described in the Handbook of Experimental Immunology (D. M. Weir & C. C. Blackwell, eds.); Current Protocols in Immunology (J. E. Coligan et al., eds., 1991); David Wild, ed., The Immunoassay Handbook (Stockton Press N.Y., 1994); and R. Masseyeff, W. H. Albert, and N. A. Staines, eds., Methods of Immunological Analysis (Weinheim: VCH Verlags gesellschaft mbH, 1993).

Antibodies obtained using any of the disclosed techniques are screened or purified not only for their ability to react with posaconazole, but for a low cross-reactivity with potential interfering substances. “Cross-reactivity” may be determined in a quantitative immunoassay by establishing a standard curve using known dilutions of the target analyte, posaconazole. The standard curve is then used to calculate the apparent concentration of the interfering substance present in various known amounts in samples assayed under similar condition. The cross-reactivity can be calculated as the apparent concentration divided by the actual concentration multiplied by 100. A certain immunoassay for determining cross-reactivity is a homogeneous enzyme immunoassay using a wild type G6PDH as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,837 or mutant G6PDH engineered to contain a cysteine per subunit as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,033,890, 6,090,567 and 6,455,288. Furthermore, the cross-reactivity can be determined in the same type of immunoassay in which the antibody will ultimately be used.

In certain embodiments, anti-posaconazole antibodies of the present disclosure have a cross-reactivity of 25% or less, such as 20% or less, or 15% or less, or 10% or less, or 5% or less, or 3% or less, or 1% or less, with respect to binding of the anti-posaconazole antibody to other substances. For instances, anti-posaconazole antibodies of the present disclosure have a cross-reactivity of 25% or less, such as 20% or less, or 15% or less, or 10% or less, or 5% or less, or 3% or less, or 1% or less, with respect to binding of the anti-posaconazole antibody to other active agents, such as other triazole drugs, including for example, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole.

Producing Polyclonal Antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies that bind posaconazole may be raised by administration of an immunogenic posaconazole conjugate to an animal host (e.g., a mouse, sheep or rabbit, etc.), in some cases also mixed with an adjuvant. Any animal host which produces antibodies can be used. The immunogen may be prepared for injection by rehydrating lyophilized immunogen to form a solution or suspension. Certain adjuvants are water-in-oil immersions, such as Freund's complete adjuvant for the first administration, and Freund's incomplete adjuvant for booster doses. The preparation is typically administered in a variety of sites, and typically in two or more doses over a course of one or more weeks (e.g., 4 weeks or more). Serum is harvested and tested for the presence of anti-posaconazole antibody using a posaconazole-protein conjugate or other posaconazole conjugates in a standard immunoassay or precipitation reaction. This technique is generally applicable to produce polyclonal antibodies to posaconazole fragments as described herein and to assess their utility.

Methods for purifying specific antibodies having a desired binding specificity from a polyclonal antiserum are known in the art. An example of a method is affinity purification using a column of posaconazole conjugated to a solid phase. One manner of preparing a posaconazole column is to conjugate posaconazole or a posaconazole fragment to a protein other than the protein used in the immunogen, and then attach the conjugate to a commercially available activated resin, such as CNBr-activated SEPHAROSE™. The anti-posaconazole antibody is passed over the column, the column is washed, and the antibody is eluted with a mild denaturing buffer, such as 0.1 M glycine, 0.2 M NaCl, pH 2.5.

Producing Monoclonal Antibodies

Anti-posaconazole monoclonal antibodies may be prepared by a number of different techniques. For example, for hybridoma technology, techniques for producing monoclonal antibodies are described in Harrow E, Lane D., 1988, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, and Methods in Enzymology, 73B:3 (1981). In certain embodiments, monoclonal antibodies are produced by immortalizing and cloning a splenocyte or other antibody-producing cell recovered from an animal that has been immunized against posaconazole as described earlier. The clone may be immortalized by a procedure such as fusion with a non-producing myeloma, by transfecting with Epstein Barr Virus, or transforming with oncogenic DNA. The treated cells may be cloned and cultured, and clones may be selected that produce antibody of the desired specificity. Specificity testing may be performed on culture supernatants by a number of techniques, such as using the immunizing antigen as the detecting reagent in an immunoassay. A supply of monoclonal antibody from the selected clone can then be purified from a large volume of culture supernatant, or from the ascites fluid of suitably prepared host animals injected with the clone. The antibody may be tested for activity as raw supernatant or ascites, and is optionally purified using biochemical preparation techniques, such as, but not limited to, ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography.

Producing Fragments and Other Derivatives of Immunoglobulins

Fragments and other derivatives of immunoglobulins can be prepared by methods of standard protein chemistry, for example, subjecting the antibody to cleavage with a proteolytic enzyme such as pepsin, papain, or trypsin; and reducing disulfide bonds with such reagents as dithiothreitol. Genetically engineered variants of intact immunoglobulin can be produced by obtaining a polynucleotide encoding the antibody, and applying the general methods of molecular biology to splice encoding sequences or introduce mutations and translate the variant. Antibodies that are engineered variants of particular interest include chimeric and humanized antibodies, Fab-like fragments, single-chain variable region fragments (scFv), and diabodies.

Detectably Labeled Anti-Posaconazole Antibodies

The anti-posaconazole antibodies may also be labeled in order to facilitate detection. A variety of protein labeling schemes may be employed as desired depending on the intended use of the antibody, e.g., immunoassay.

Examples of labels include labels that permit both the direct and indirect measurement of the presence of the antibody. Examples of labels that permit direct measurement of the antibody include radiolabels, such as ³H or ¹²⁵I, fluorescent labels, dyes, microparticles, beads, chemiluminescent labels, colloidal particles, and the like. Examples of labels which permit indirect measurement of the presence of the antibody include enzymes where a substrate may provide for a colored or fluorescent product. For example, the antibodies may be labeled with a covalently bound enzyme capable of providing a detectable product signal after addition of suitable substrate. Instead of covalently binding the enzyme to the antibody, the antibody may be modified to comprise a first member of specific binding pair which specifically binds with a second member of the specific binding pair that is conjugated to the enzyme, e.g., the antibody may be covalently bound to biotin and the enzyme conjugate to streptavidin. Examples of suitable enzymes for use in conjugates include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase and the like.

Immunoassays

The present disclosure provides immunoassay methods for assessing the presence or absence of posaconazole in a sample of interest. Immunoassays of the present disclosure can be of a variety of formats. The immunoassays may be separation immunoassays (also known as heterogeneous immunoassays) or homogeneous immunoassays. Furthermore, the immunoassays may be qualitative or quantitative. Assays of this disclosure include both sandwich and competition assays. The immunoassays may embody other types of assays that are neither sandwich nor competition assays, as in certain assays involving immunoprecipitation.

In general, the immunoassays of the present disclosure for detecting the presence or absence of posaconazole in a sample can be conducted by adding, to a reaction mixture, (i) a sample suspected of containing posaconazole and (ii) an anti-posaconazole antibody capable of forming a complex of posaconazole that may be present in the sample and the antibody; and detecting the presence or absence of the complex. The presence or absence of the complex may be indicative of the presence or absence of posaconazole in said sample. Moreover, the amount of complex formed can be assessed to determine the concentration of posaconazole present in the sample (e.g., to provide an assessment of serum or tissue concentration of posaconazole in a subject from whom the sample was obtained). The presence and/or amount of complex can be assessed directly (e.g., by detecting bound antibody in the complex) or indirectly (e.g., by assessing activity of an enzyme in a posaconazole enzyme conjugate, where when the posaconazole enzyme conjugate is not bound to antibody, a detectable signal is generated, indicating that the anti-posaconazole antibody in the reaction mixture has been bound by posaconazole from the sample).

In general, the immunoassays of the disclosure entail combining the sample with an anti-posaconazole antibody under conditions that permit the formation of a stable complex between the analyte to be tested and the antibody.

Assays may be performed in solution or may use a solid (insoluble) support (e.g., polystyrene, nitrocellulose, or beads), using any standard methods (e.g., as described in Current Protocols in Immunology, Coligan et al., ed.; John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1992). Such methods include ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays), IRMAs (immunoradiometric assays), and RIAs (radioimmunoassays).

Where the assay is performed in solution, the test sample (and, optionally a control sample) may be incubated with an anti-posaconazole antibody for a time period sufficient to allow formation of analyte and affinity reagent complexes, for example, from 0.1 hrs to 24 hrs, or more. As previously noted, the anti-posaconazole antibody may include a detectable label (e.g., radionuclide, fluorescer, or enzyme). The sample may then be treated to separate the posaconazole-anti-posaconazole antibody complexes from excess, unreacted anti-posaconazole antibody (e.g., by addition of an anti-anti-posaconazole antibody (e.g., anti-immunoglobulin antiserum) followed by centrifugation to precipitate the complexes, or by binding to an affinity surface such as a second, unlabelled anti-posaconazole antibody fixed to a solid substrate such as Sepharose® or a plastic well). Detection of anti-posaconazole antibody bound to a posaconazole may be achieved in a variety of ways. If necessary, a substrate for the detectable label may be added to the sample.

Where the assay uses a solid support, the support can have an anti-posaconazole antibody (or posaconazole conjugate) bound to a support surface. Binding of the assay reagent facilitates the stable, wash-resistant binding of posaconazole which may be present in the sample (or anti-posaconazole antibody that is not bound to posaconazole from the sample, and is present in the reaction mixture, as in a competitive binding assay) to the solid support via specific binding to the anti-posaconazole antibody. The insoluble supports may be any composition to which antibodies or suitable posaconazole conjugates can be bound, which can be separated from soluble material, and which is otherwise compatible with the overall method of detection of anti-posaconazole antibody a sample.

The surface of such supports may be solid or porous and of any convenient shape. Examples of suitable insoluble supports to which the anti-posaconazole antibody is bound include beads, e.g., magnetic beads, membranes and microtiter plates. These can be composed of glass, plastic (e.g., polystyrene), polysaccharides, nylon or nitrocellulose.

Assay reagents can include the anti-posaconazole antibodies as disclosed herein, as well as anti-anti-posaconazole antibodies, which may be optionally detectably labeled. After binding of an assay reagent to the support, the support may be treated with a blocking agent, which binds to the support in areas not occupied by the assay reagent Suitable blocking agents include non-interfering proteins such as bovine serum albumin, casein, gelatin, and the like. Alternatively, detergents at non-interfering concentrations, such as Tween, NP40, TX100, and the like may be used. Such blocking treatment may reduce nonspecific binding.

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Assays of this disclosure include both qualitative and quantitative assays. Typical quantitative methods involve mixing an analyte with a pre-determined amount of the reagent antibody, and correlating the amount of complex formed with the amount of analyte in the original sample using a relationship determined using standard samples containing known amounts of analyte in the range expected for the sample to be tested. In a qualitative assay, sufficient complex above or below a threshold level established by samples known to contain or be free of analyte establish the assay result. Unless otherwise stated, the act of “measuring” or “determining” in this disclosure refers alternately to qualitative and quantitative determination.

Samples

Samples may be biological samples taken from subjects suspected of being administered posaconazole.

As used herein, a “biological sample” refers to a sample of tissue or fluid isolated from a subject, which in the context of the embodiments generally refers to samples suspected of containing posaconazole, which samples, after optional processing, can be analyzed in an in vitro assay.

Certain samples of interest include, but are not necessarily limited to, a “blood sample” (which as used herein is meant to include whole blood, plasma, serum, and the like), fecal matter, urine, tears, sweat saliva, milk, organs, biopsies, secretions of the intestinal and respiratory tracts, vitreous humor, and other fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid or fluids obtainable during autopsy. It should be noted that a “blood-derived sample” refers to a sample that is prepared from blood or a fraction thereof, e.g., plasma or serum. Respiratory secretions (e.g., samples obtained from fluids or tissue of nasal passages, lung, and the like). “Human serum”, as used herein, refers to the aqueous portion of human blood remaining after the fibrin and suspended material (such as cells) have been removed.

Blood samples, such as serum samples, can be obtained by any suitable method. In one embodiment, a trough serum/plasma is used and the concentration range is 12-20 mg. Sweat samples can be obtained using, for example, a PharmChek® sweat patch from Sudormed. The PharmChek® sweat patch includes a semi-occlusive dressing containing a medical grade cellulose blotter paper collection pad, covered by a thin layer of polyurethane and acrylate adhesives. At the end of the wear period, the pad is eluted with a suitable buffer, such as 2.5 mL of 0.2 M acetate buffer with methanol at pH 5.0 (25:75) or with acetonitrile. Furthermore, the biological samples may also be tissue samples, which are extracted into liquid medium for immunoassay. For example, hair samples can be tested by extracting into a liquid medium. The samples may be diluted or modified to facilitate the assay.

The samples may be experimental samples generated by any chemical or biological method. For example, the samples may be standards containing known concentrations of posaconazole or other substances used for assay calibration.

In some embodiments, the biological sample is diluted in a suitable solution prior to assaying. In general, a solution suitable for diluting a biological sample may include a buffer, such as phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and may include additional items, such as for example, a non-specific blocking agent, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), a detergent, such as Triton-X-100, and the like.

Where desired, appropriate control samples for the assay include blood, serum, or urine collected from human subjects who have not received posaconazole (i.e., a negative control), or samples which contain a known, predetermined amount of a posaconazole analyte (i.e., a positive control). Alternatively, test results can be compared to detectable signal levels known to be associated with the presence or absence of posaconazole and/or correlated with an amount of posaconazole, e.g., a serum level of posaconazole.

The assays may optionally include use of a calibration standard. “Calibration standard”, as used herein, refers to an aqueous medium containing posaconazole at a predetermined concentration. In certain embodiments, a series of these calibration standards are available at a series of predetermined concentrations. In certain embodiments, the calibration standard is stable at ambient temperature. In certain embodiments, the calibration standards are in a synthetic matrix.

In certain embodiments, the calibration standards are in a non-synthetic matrix such as human serum.

In some embodiments, a suitable initial source for the human sample is a blood sample. As such, the sample employed in the subject assays may be a blood-derived sample. The blood derived sample may be derived from whole blood or a fraction thereof, e.g., serum, plasma, etc., where in some embodiments the sample is derived from blood allowed to clot and the serum separated and collected to be used to assay.

In embodiments in which the sample is a serum or serum derived sample, the sample is generally a fluid sample. Any convenient methodology for producing a fluid serum sample may be employed. In some embodiments, the method employs drawing venous blood by skin puncture (e.g., finger stick, venipuncture) into a clotting or serum separator tube, allowing the blood to clot, and centrifuging the serum away from the clotted blood. The serum is then collected and stored until assayed. Once the patient derived sample is obtained, the sample is assayed to determine the level of posaconazole analyte.

Immunoassay Reagents

Immunoassay reagents that find use alone or in combination in the assays described herein include anti-posaconazole antibodies, posaconazole conjugates, and posaconazole (e.g., as a control or in competitive binding assays). Immunoassay reagents can be provided in a buffered aqueous solution. Such solutions may include additional components such as surface active additives, organic solvents, defoamers, buffers, surfactants, and anti-microbial agents. Surface active additives are introduced to maintain hydrophobic or low-solubility compounds in solution, and stabilize components in the solution. Examples include bulking agents such as betalactoglobulin (BLG) or polyethyleneglycol (PEG); defoamers and surfactants such as Tween-20, Plurafac A38, Triton X-100, Pluronic 25R2, rabbit serum albumin (RSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and carbohydrates. Examples of organic solvents can include methanol and other alcohols. Various buffers may be used to maintain the pH of the solution during storage. Illustrative buffers include HEPES, borate, phosphate, carbonate, tris, barbital and the like. Anti-microbial agents also extend the storage life of the immunoassay reagent.

Anti-Posaconazole Antibodies

Immunoassays generally involve at least one anti-posaconazole antibody, which may be produced by the methods disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the assays involve using an antibody raised against a posaconazole fragment-protein conjugate, such as an antibody with a low cross-reactivity with non-posaconazole molecules that may be present in a reaction mixture. Anti-posaconazole antibodies can be polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies capable of specifically binding posaconazole.

Depending upon the assay format, the anti-posaconazole antibody can be optionally detectably labeled, may be used in conjunction with a secondary antibody (i.e., an antibody that specifically binds an anti-posaconazole antibody) that may be detectably labeled. Certain detectable labels for antibodies are described herein.

Posaconazole Conjugates

Posaconazole conjugates find use as immunoassay reagents depending on the assay format. For example, a posaconazole conjugate can act as a competitive binding reagent in competitive binding assays, or can provide for a detectable signal when not bound by an anti-posaconazole antibody (e.g., where the posaconazole conjugate is a posaconazole G6PDH conjugate). Certain posaconazole conjugates useful as immunoassay reagents are described below.

Detectable Labels

A variety of detectable labels can be used in connection with the posaconazole conjugate assay reagents for use in the methods disclosed herein. Such detectable labels can be isotopic labels. In other embodiments, the detectable labels are non-isotopic signal-generating moieties, such as fluorophores and enzymes. Certain detectable labels are described below. It will be apparent that while the detectable labels are described below in the context of their use in posaconazole conjugates, they can also be adapted for use with anti-posaconazole antibodies.

Fluorophores

“Fluorophore” as used herein refers to a moiety that itself fluoresces, can be made to fluoresce, or can provide for quenching of fluorescence of a fluorophore of a FRET pair (e.g., as in a FRET pair). In principle, any fluorophore can be used in the assays of the embodiments. In general, the fluorophore is selected so as to be compatible for use in the assay format desired, and selected so as to be relatively insensitive to the assay conditions, e.g., pH, polarity, temperature and ionic strength.

Certain fluorophores can be characterized as having the following characteristics: (a) a fluorescence lifetime of greater than 15 nsec; (b) an excitation wavelength of greater than 350 nm; (c) a Stokes shift (a shift to lower wave-length of the emission relative to absorption) of greater than 20 nm; (d) for homogeneous assays described below, fluorescence lifetime should vary with binding status; and (e) the absorptivity and quantum yield of the fluorophore should be high. The longer lifetime is advantageous because it may facilitate measurement and may be more easily distinguishable from the Raleigh scattering (background). Excitation wavelengths greater than 350 nm may reduce background interference because most fluorescent substances responsible for background fluorescence in biological samples are excited below 350 nm. A greater Stokes shift may also allow for less background interference.

The fluorophores generally have a functional group available for conjugation either directly or indirectly to a posaconazole intermediate to generate a posaconazole conjugate having the attached fluorophore.

Fluorophores for use in heterogeneous assays can be relatively insensitive to binding status. In contrast, fluorophores for use in homogeneous assay can be sensitive to binding status, i.e., the fluorescence lifetime must be alterable by binding so that bound and free forms can be distinguished.

Examples of fluorophores include, but are not limited to, naphthalene derivatives (e.g., dansyl chloride), anthracene derivatives (e.g., N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of anthracene propionate), pyrene derivatives (e.g., N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of pyrene butyrate), fluorescein derivatives (e.g., fluorescein isothiocyanate), rhodamine derivatives (e.g., rhodamine isothiocyanate), phycoerythin, Texas Red, and the like.

Enzymes

As discussed herein, the posaconazole conjugate may be a label conjugate (e.g., a posaconazole fragment of Formula I herein conjugated to a detectable label). In some instances, the detectable label is a non-isotopic label, such as a signal-generating moiety. In certain embodiments, the signal-generating moiety is an enzyme. In some cases, the enzyme facilitates a reaction that produces an enzymatic reaction product. In certain instances, the enzymatic reaction product produces a detectable signal. As such, in certain embodiments, methods of the present disclosure include immunoassays where detecting the presence of posaconazole in a sample includes determining the presence of an enzymatic reaction product of the label conjugate.

The enzyme can be selected so as to be stable to provide for desirable shelf-life, e.g., stable when stored for a period of three months or more, or six months or more, at temperatures which are convenient to store in the laboratory, such as −20° C., or above. The enzyme can be selected so as to have a satisfactory turnover rate at or near the pH optimum for binding to the antibody, which may be at about pH 6-10, such as pH 6 to 8. A product of the enzymatic reaction facilitated by the enzyme can be either formed or destroyed as a result of the enzyme reaction, and can provide an enzymatic reaction product which absorbs light in the ultraviolet region or the visible region, such as a range of 250-750 nm, including 300-600 nm. The enzyme may also have a substrate (including cofactors), which has a molecular weight of 300 or more, or 500 or more. The enzyme which is employed or other enzymes, with like activity, may not be present in the sample to be measured, or can be easily removed or deactivated prior to the addition of the assay reagents. Also, the enzyme can be selected so as to avoid the impact of any naturally occurring inhibitors for the enzyme that may be present in samples to be assayed or as some other component of the reaction mixture.

Although enzymes of 600,000 molecular weight or more can be employed, in some embodiments relatively low molecular weight enzymes will be employed, such as from 10,000 to 300,000 molecular weight, including from 10,000 to 150,000 molecular weight, or from 10,000 to 100,000 molecular weight. Where an enzyme has a plurality of subunits the molecular weight ranges refer to the enzyme and not to the subunits.

It may be desirable to select an enzyme that is susceptible to detectable labeling. In some instances, the enzyme can be detectably labeled using appropriate detectable labels exemplified herein.

Certain enzymes include, but are not limited to, alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase, lysozyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, β-galactosidase, and urease. Also, a genetically engineered fragment of an enzyme may be used, such as the donor and acceptor fragment of β-galactosidase utilized in CEDIA immunoassays (see, e.g., Henderson D R et al. Clin Chem. 32(9):1637-1641 (1986)); U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,929. These and other enzymes which can be used are discussed in Eva Engvall in Enzyme Immunoassay ELISA and EMIT in Methods in Enzymology, 70:419-439 (1980) and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,453.

In certain embodiments, the enzyme is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and is attached to a posaconazole fragment, thus forming a posaconazole-reactive partner conjugate. An anti-posaconazole antibody used in conjunction with such posaconazole conjugates can be selected so as to specifically bind the posaconazole epitope presented by the posaconazole-enzyme conjugate, and thus affect activity of the posaconazole-enzyme conjugate.

For assays employing posaconazole-enzyme conjugates, as a certain protein conjugate in which a posaconazole fragment is labeled with an enzyme, the posaconazole fragment can be attached to the enzyme by any suitable method. In certain embodiments, the chemistry described herein for formation of immunogenic protein conjugates of posaconazole fragments is also used to prepare the posaconazole-enzyme conjugate. In this way, the posaconazole moiety of the posaconazole-enzyme conjugate that is presented to the antibody can be substantially similar to the posaconazole epitope to which the antibody specifically binds.

The selection procedure is exemplified using a posaconazole-reactive partner conjugate that includes G6PDH as the reactive partner and a posaconazole fragment as the hapten. The first step in selecting an antibody involves testing the magnitude of antibody inhibition of a posaconazole-reactive partner conjugate. In this step, antibodies which significantly inhibit the enzyme activity of G6PDH are selected. Antibodies which perform well in the first test are then subjected to a second test. Here, the antibody is first incubated with posaconazole. Next, the posaconazole-reactive partner conjugate is added. In certain embodiments, a certain antibody may preferentially bind to posaconazole instead of the posaconazole-reactive partner conjugate. The reduction in binding to the posaconazole-reactive partner conjugate may be detectable as an increase in G6PDH activity.

Detection

Via Fluorescence

When a fluorescently labeled analyte (i.e., posaconazole antigen or antibody) is employed, the fluorescence emitted may be proportional (either directly or inversely) to the amount of analyte. The amount of fluorescence may be determined by the amplitude of the fluorescence decay curve for the fluorescent species. In some instances, this amplitude parameter is directly proportional to the amount of fluorescent species and accordingly to the analyte.

In certain embodiments, spectroscopic measurement of fluorescence is accomplished by: (a) exciting the fluorophore with a pulse of light; (b) detecting and storing an image of the excitation pulse and an image of all the fluorescence (the fluorescent transient) induced by the excitation pulse; (c) digitizing the image; (d) calculating the true fluorescent transient from the digitized data; and (e) determining the amplitude of the fluorescent transient as an indication of the amount of fluorescent species.

According to the method, substantially all of the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent species reaching the detector as a function of time from the instant of excitation is measured. As a consequence, the signal being detected may be a superimposition of several component signals (for example, background signal and an analyte specific signal). As mentioned, the individual contributions to the overall fluorescence reaching the detector may be distinguished based on the different fluorescence decay rates (lifetimes) of signal components. In order to quantitate the magnitude of each contribution, the detected signal data may be processed to obtain the amplitude of each component. The amplitude of each component signal may be proportional to the concentration of the fluorescent species.

Via Enzyme

Detection of the amount of product produced by the posaconazole-reactive partner conjugate of the embodiments can be accomplished by several methods, such as, but not limited to, colorimetry, fluorescence, and spectrophotometry. These methods of detection are discussed in “Analytical Biochemistry” by David Holme, Addison-Wesley, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Solid Supports

The posaconazole conjugates and/or the anti-posaconazole antibodies to be used as reagents in an assay can be insolubilized by attachment to a solid phase. This can be, for example, a wall of a vessel containing the reagent, to a particulate, or to a large molecular weight carrier that can be kept in suspension but removable by physicochemical means, such as centrifugation or microfiltration. In some cases, the attachment is through one or more covalent bonds. The attachment need not be covalent, but is at least of sufficient permanence to withstand any separation techniques (including washes) that are part of the assay procedure. Certain particulate materials include agarose, polystyrene, cellulose, polyacrylamide, latex particles, magnetic particles, and fixed red cells. Examples of commercially available matrices include Sepharose®(Pharmacia), Poros® resins (Roche Molecular Biochemicals), Actigel Superflow™ resins (Sterogene Bioseparations Inc.), and Dynabeads™ (Dynal Inc.). In certain embodiments, the choice of the solid support may depend on one or more of stability, capacity, accessibility of the coupled antibody, flow rate (or the ability to disperse the resin in the reaction mixture), and ease of separation.

Assay Formats

As noted above, immunoassays for detection of posaconazole can be of a variety of formats. In general, the immunoassays involve combining one or more immunoassay reagents (e.g., at least an anti-posaconazole antibody) with a test sample (i.e., a sample suspected of containing posaconazole) in a reaction mixture. “Reaction mixture” generally refers to the combination of a sample suspected of containing posaconazole and one or more immunoassay reagents as exemplified in the present disclosure to facilitate detection of the presence or absence of posaconazole in the sample, where the detection may be qualitative or quantitative. The reaction mixture is usually an aqueous solution, although the immunoassay reagent(s) may be in solution or immobilized on a support (e.g., a substrate such as a bead). The reaction mixture can include other components compatible with the immunoassay, e.g., buffers, reagents, and the like.

Immunoassays usually are classified in one of several ways. For example, immunoassays can be classified according to the mode of detection used, i.e., enzyme immunoassays, radio immunoassays, fluorescence polarization immunoassays, chemiluminescence immunoassays, turbidimetric assays, etc. Another grouping method is according to the assay procedure used, i.e., competitive assay formats, sandwich-type assay formats as well as assays based on precipitation or agglutination principles. In certain instances, a further distinction is made depending on whether washing steps are included in the procedure (so-called heterogeneous assays) or whether reaction and detection are performed without a washing step (so-called homogeneous assays). Certain assays are described in more detail below.

Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Immunoassays

Immunoassays may be described as heterogeneous or homogeneous. “Homogeneous immunoassay”, as used herein, refers to an assay method where the complex is not separated from unreacted reaction components, but instead the presence of the complex is detected by a property which at least one of the reactants acquires or loses as a result of being incorporated into the complex. Homogeneous assays include systems involving fluorochrome and fluorochrome quenching pairs on different reagents; enzyme and enzyme inhibitor pairs on different reagents; chromophore and chromophore modifier pairs on different reagents; and latex agglutination assays.

A certain homogeneous assay is the quantitative homogeneous enzyme immunoassay in which a posaconazole fragment is conjugated to an active enzyme. In some embodiments, the conjugation is arranged so that the binding of an anti-posaconazole antibody to the posaconazole fragment affects enzymatic activity in a qualitative or quantitative fashion. If a sample containing posaconazole is premixed with the antibody, the antibody may complex with the posaconazole and thus be prevented from binding to the enzyme conjugate. In this way, the activity of the enzyme can be correlated with the amount of posaconazole present in the sample.

G6PDH is a certain enzyme useful in such assays. In some embodiments, the G6PDH is a variant of a naturally-occurring G6PDH in which one or more lysine residues are deleted or substituted, or one or more cysteine residues are introduced. For example, Leuconostoc mesenteroides G6PDH are dimeric enzymes that have the ability to catalyze the oxidation of D-glucose-6-phosphate to D-glucono-delta-lactone-6-phosphate by utilizing either NAD⁺ or NADP⁺. This property of using NAD differentiates these enzymes from human G6PDH, which utilizes only NADP⁺ effectively, and allows L. mesenteroides-specific G6PDH activity to be measured in the presence of human G6PDH, as for example in human samples. Two certain genera of bacteria from which to select G6PDH are Leuconostoc and Zymomonas. Within these genera L. mesenteroides, L. citreum, L. lactis, L. dextranicum, and Z. mobilis are of interest, where L. mesenteroides, L. citreum, and L. lactis are specific examples. Another example of a homogeneous assay system is the cloned enzyme donor immunoassay.

In a separation-based or “heterogeneous” assay, the detecting of a complex of an anti-posaconazole antibody and an analyte involves a process where the complex formed is physically separated from either unreacted analyte, unreacted antibody, or both.

In a heterogeneous immunoassay, a complex of an anti-posaconazole antibody and an analyte may be first formed in the fluid phase, and then subsequently captured by a solid phase reagent or separated on the basis of an altered physical or chemical property, such as by gel filtration or precipitation. Alternatively, one of the reagents may be attached to a solid phase before contacting with other reagents, and then the complex may be recovered by washing the solid phase free of unreacted reagents. Separation-based assays typically involve use of a labeled derivative or antibody to facilitate detection or quantitation of the complex. Suitable labels include radioisotopes such as ¹²⁵I, enzymes such as peroxidase and β-galactosidase, and fluorescent labels such as fluorescein isothiocyanate. The separation step involves removing labeled reagent present in complex form from unreacted labeled reagent. The amount of label in the complex can be measured directly or inferred from the amount left unreacted.

Sandwich and Competition Assays

Assays of this disclosure include both sandwich and competition assays. Sandwich assays typically involve forming a complex in which the analyte to be measured is sandwiched between one reagent, such as a first antibody used ultimately for separation of the complex, and another reagent, such as a second antibody used as a marker for the separated complex. Competition assays involve a system in which the analyte to be measured competes with a derivative of the analyte for binding to another reagent, such as an antibody. An example of a competition assay using EMIT® is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,837.

In some embodiments, the immunoassay further includes adding a posaconazole conjugate that has a posaconazole moiety and a detectable label to the sample. The presence or absence of posaconazole in the sample can be detected by detecting the datable label. The detectable label may include an enzyme and the detecting may be by assaying activity of the enzyme. In certain embodiments, the enzyme is a dehydrogenase, such as G6PDH.

Lateral Flow Chromatography

The compounds and methods of the embodiments also encompass the use of these materials in lateral flow chromatography technologies. Lateral flow chromatography involves a membrane strip which includes a detection device, such as a non-isotopic signal generating moiety, for posaconazole. A sample from a patient may then be applied to the membrane strip. The sample may interact with the detection device, producing a result. The results can signify several things, including the absence of the posaconazole in the sample, the presence of the posaconazole in the sample, or the concentration of the posaconazole in the sample.

Certain embodiments provide a method of qualitatively determining the presence or absence of a posaconazole in a sample, through the use of lateral flow chromatography. In certain embodiments, the basic design of the qualitative lateral flow device is as follows: 1) The sample pad is where the sample is applied. The sample pad is treated with chemicals such as buffers or salts, which, when re-dissolved, optimize the chemistry of the sample for reaction with the conjugate, test, and control reagents; 2) Conjugate release pad is typically a polyester or glass fiber material that is treated with a conjugate reagent such as an antibody colloidal gold conjugate. A typical process for treating a conjugate pad is to use impregnation followed by drying. In use, the liquid sample added to the test will re-dissolve the conjugate so that it will flow into the membrane; 3) The membrane substrate is usually made of nitrocellulose or a similar material whereby antibody capture components are immobilized; 4) A wicking pad is used in tests where blood plasma must be separated from whole blood. An impregnation process is usually used to treat this pad with reagents intended to condition the sample and promote cell separation; 5) The absorbent pad acts as a reservoir for collecting fluids that have flowed through the device; and 6) The above layers and membrane system are laminated onto a plastic backing with adhesive material which serves as a structural member.

Certain embodiments provide a method of qualitatively determining the presence of a posaconazole in a sample, through the use of lateral flow chromatography. In these embodiments, the membrane strip includes a sample pad, which is a conjugate release pad (CRP) that has an antibody that is specific for the posaconazole. This antibody may be conjugated to a non-isotopic signal-generating moiety, such as a colloidal gold particle. Other detection moieties useful in a lateral flow chromatography environment include dyes, colored latex particles, fluorescently labeled latex particles, non-isotopic signal generating moieties, etc. In some instances, the membrane strip further includes a capture line, in which the posaconazole fragment antigen is immobilized on the strip. In some embodiments, this immobilization is through covalent attachment to the membrane strip, optionally through a linker. In other embodiments, the immobilization is through non-covalent attachment to the membrane strip. In still other embodiments, the immobile posaconazole fragment in the capture line is attached to a reactive partner, such as an immunogenic carrier like BSA.

Sample from a patient may be applied to the sample pad, where it can combine with the antibody in the CRP, thus forming a solution. This solution may then migrate chromatographically by capillary action across the membrane. When posaconazole is present in the sample, a posaconazole-antibody complex may be formed, which migrates across the membrane by capillary action. When the solution reaches the capture line, the posaconazole-antibody complex may compete with the immobile posaconazole for the limited binding sites of the antibody. When a sufficient concentration of posaconazole is present in the sample, it may fill the limited antibody binding sites. In certain instances, this will prevent the formation of a colored antibody-immobile posaconazole complex in the capture line. Therefore, absence of color in the capture line indicates the presence of posaconazole in the sample.

In the absence of posaconazole in the sample, a colored antibody-immobile posaconazole complex may form once the solution reaches the capture line of the membrane strip. In some instances, the formation of this complex in the capture line is evidence of the absence of posaconazole therapeutic in the sample.

Certain embodiments provide a method of quantitatively determining the amount of a posaconazole in a sample, through the use of lateral flow chromatography. This technology is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,391,904; 4,435,504; 4,959,324; 5,264,180; 5,340,539; and 5,416,000, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, the antibody may be immobilized along the entire length of the membrane strip. In general, if the membrane strip is made from paper, the antibody may be covalently bound to the membrane strip. If the membrane strip is made from nitrocellulose, then the antibody can be non-covalently attached to the membrane strip through, for example, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The membrane strip may include a CRP that includes the posaconazole attached to a detector moiety. In certain embodiments, the detector moiety is an enzyme, such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

In certain embodiments, sample from a patient is applied to the membrane strip, where it can combine with the posaconazole/detector molecule in the CRP, thus forming a solution. This solution may then be allowed to migrate chromatographically by capillary action across the membrane. When posaconazole is present in the sample, both the sample posaconazole and the posaconazole/detector molecule compete for the limited binding sites of the antibody. When a sufficient concentration of posaconazole is present in the sample, it may fill the limited antibody binding sites. In some instances, this forces the posaconazole/detector molecule to continue to migrate in the membrane strip. The shorter the distance of migration of the posaconazole/detector molecule in the membrane strip, the lower the concentration of posaconazole in the sample, and vice versa. When the posaconazole/detector molecule includes an enzyme, the length of migration of the posaconazole/detector molecule can be detected by applying an enzyme substrate to the membrane strip. Detection of the product of the enzyme reaction may then be utilized to determine the concentration of the posaconazole in the sample. In certain embodiments, the enzyme's color producing substrate such as a modified N,N-dimethylaniline is immobilized to the membrane strip and 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone is passively applied to the membrane, thus alleviating the need for a separate reagent to visualize the color producing reaction.

Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay for Posaconazole

Fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) technology is based upon competitive binding between an antigen/drug in a sample and a known concentration of labeled antigen/drug. FPIA technology is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,593,089, 4,492,762, 4,668,640, and 4,751,190, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The FPIA reagents, systems, and equipment can be used with anti-posaconazole antibodies which are also anti-posaconazole analog antibodies.

The FPIA technology can be used to identify the presence of posaconazole and can be used in assays that quantify the amount of posaconazole in a sample. In part, the rotational properties of molecules in solution allow for the degree of polarization to be directly proportional to the size of the molecule. Accordingly, polarization may increase as molecular size increases. That is, when linearly polarized light is used to excite a fluorescent-labeled or other luminescent-labeled posaconazole or fragment thereof, which is small and rotates rapidly in solution, the emitted light may be significantly depolarized. When the fluorescent-labeled posaconazole or fragment interacts with or is bound to an antibody, the rotation may be slowed and the emitted light may be highly polarized. In some cases, this is because the antibody significantly and measurably increases the size of the complex. Also, increasing the amount of unlabeled posaconazole in the sample can result in decreased binding of the fluorescent-labeled posaconazole or fragment by the anti-posaconazole antibody, and thereby decrease the polarization of light emitted from sample. The quantitative relationship between polarization and concentration of the unlabeled posaconazole in the sample can be established by measuring the polarization values of calibrations with known concentrations of posaconazole. Thus, FPIA can be used to identify the presence and concentration of posaconazole in a sample.

In some embodiments, the assay involves an FPIA assay system. An example of components of the FPIA system can include the following: i) monoclonal or polyclonal anti-posaconazole antibodies capable of specifically binding to posaconazole and a posaconazole fragment; ii) a sample suspected of containing the posaconazole; and iii) posaconazole fragment labeled with a fluorescent moiety, such as fluorescein. Alternatively, the system can be provided as a kit exclusive of the sample. Additionally, the system can include various buffer compositions, posaconazole concentration gradient compositions or a stock composition of posaconazole, and the like.

Homogeneous Microparticle Immunoassay for Posaconazole

Homogeneous microparticles immunoassay (“HMI”) technology, which can be referred to as immunoturbidimetric assays, is based on the agglutination of particles and compounds in solution. When particles and/or chemical compounds agglutinate, particle sizes can increase and increase the turbidity of a solution. Accordingly, anti-posaconazole antibodies can be used with microparticles and posaconazole fragments in order to assess the presence, and optionally the amount, of posaconazole in a sample. HMI may be useful because the immunoassays can be performed on blood, blood hemolysate, serum, plasma, tissue, and/or other samples. HMI assays can be configured to be performed with posaconazole and/or a posaconazole fragment loaded onto a microparticle, or with an anti-posaconazole antibody loaded onto a microparticle. HMI or immunoturbidimetric assays find use for measuring agglutination of substances in a sample.

Immunoturbidimetric assay technologies are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,728, 4,847,209, 6,514,770, and 6,248,597, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such assays involve light attenuation, nephelometric, or turbidimetric methods. The formation of an agglutinated compound AB from posaconazole (A) and anti-posaconazole antibody microparticle binding partner (B) can be measured by the change that occurs in the scattering or absorption of the incident light directed into the sample. Alternatively, the anti-posaconazole antibody (A) can bind with a posaconazole or derivative loaded microparticle (B). When suspendable particles having an immobilized binding partner are used, there may be an enhancement of the effects, which may facilitate the determination of lower posaconazole concentrations. These homogeneous methods can be carried out quickly and simply, and may facilitate the automation of sample analyses as described in more detail below.

Cloned Enzyme Donor Immunoassays for Posaconazole

Cloned Enzyme Donor Immunoassays (“CEDIA®”, Roche Diagnostics), as are based upon the competition of posaconazole in the biological sample with a posaconazole conjugate containing an inactive genetically engineered enzyme-donor (“ED”) fragment such as from β-D-galactoside galactohydrolase or β-galactosidase (“β-gal”) from E. coli, for binding to an antibody capable of binding posaconazole. If posaconazole is present in the sample it may bind to the antibody, leaving the ED portion of the ED-derivative conjugate free to restore enzyme activity of β-D-galactoside galactohydrolase or B gal in the reaction mixture so as to be capable of association with enzyme acceptor (“EA”) fragments. The active enzyme, which includes the ED and EA, may then be capable of producing a quantifiable reaction product when exposed to an appropriate substrate. An example of a substrate is chlorophenol red-β-D-galactopyranoside (“CPRG”), which can be cleaved by the active enzyme into galactose and CPR, where CPR is measured by absorbency at about wavelength 570 nm. If posaconazole is not present in the sample, the antibody may bind to the ED-derivative conjugate, thereby inhibiting association of the ED fragments with the EA fragments and inhibiting restoration of enzyme activity. The amount of reaction product and resultant absorbance change are proportional to the amount of posaconazole in the sample.

Chemiluminescent Heterogeneous Immunoassays for Posaconazole

A competitive assay using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (“CMIA”) technology can also be used to assess whether or not posaconazole is present in a sample. Various types of CMIA technologies may be used for determining the presence and/or amount of a chemical entity in a sample. CMIA assays can include the use of anti-posaconazole antibodies, which are capable of binding to posaconazole and its fragments, which are coupled to particles, such as magnetic particles or particles suitable for separation by filtration, sedimentation, and/or other means. Additionally, a tracer, which can include a posaconazole fragment linked to a suitable chemiluminescent moiety, can be used to compete with free posaconazole in the patient's sample for the limited amount of anti-posaconazole antibody on the particle. After the sample, tracer, and antibody particles interact and a routine wash step has removed unbound tracer, the amount of tracer bound to antibody particles can be measured by chemiluminescence, wherein chemiluminescence is expressed in Relative Light Units (RULE). The amount of chemiluminescence is inversely related to the amount of free drug in the patient's sample and concentration is determined by constructing a standard curve using known values of the drug.

Other Immunoassays for Posaconazole

The posaconazole fragments, conjugates, antibodies, immunogens, and/or other conjugates described herein are also suitable for any of a number of other heterogeneous immunoassays with a range of detection systems including but not limited to enzymatic or fluorescent, and/or homogeneous immunoassays including but not limited to rapid lateral flow assays, and antibody arrays, as well as formats yet to be developed.

While various immunodiagnostic assays have been described herein that utilize the posaconazole fragments, conjugates, antibodies, immunogens and/or tracers, such assays can also be modified as is well known in the art. As such, various modifications of steps or acts for performing such immunoassays can be made within the scope of the embodiments.

Kits

The present disclosure also provides kits that find use in practicing the subject methods, as described above, such as a method for performing an assay for the determination of posaconazole in a sample. The kits of the embodiments can include an anti-posaconazole antibody in a container, and may include a posaconazole conjugate (e.g., for use in a competitive binding assay, for use in an enzyme-based assay, and the like). For example, an immunoassay kit may include at least one antibody for an immunogen of an analyte, e.g., posaconazole, and at least one enzyme conjugate that corresponds to that analyte, e.g., an enzyme conjugate of a fragment of posaconazole. In certain embodiments, a kit for an assay for the analyte posaconazole includes in packaged combination: (i) an antibody raised against the compound of Formula 1 above; and (ii) a conjugate of a fragment of the analyte.

Reagents and buffers used in the assays can be packaged separately or in combination into kit form to facilitate distribution. The reagents may be provided in suitable containers, and may be provided in a package along with written instructions relating to assay procedures (e.g., instructions for an assay for detecting posaconazole in a sample). For example, the kit reagents can be provided in packaged combination, in the same or separate containers, in liquid or lyophilized form so that the ratio of the reagents provides for substantial optimization of the method and assay. The reagents may each be in separate containers or various reagents can be combined in one or more containers depending on the cross-reactivity and stability of the reagents.

The kit can further include other separately packaged reagents for conducting an assay such as additional sbp members, ancillary reagents such as an ancillary enzyme substrate, and so forth. The relative amounts of the various reagents in the kits can be varied widely to provide for concentrations of the reagents that substantially optimize the reactions that need to occur during the present method and further to optimize substantially the sensitivity of the assay. Under appropriate circumstances one or more of the reagents in the kit can be provided as a dry powder, usually lyophilized, including excipients, which on dissolution will provide for a reagent solution having the appropriate concentrations for performing a method or assay in accordance with the present invention.

Various ancillary materials may be employed in an assay in accordance with the embodiments. In certain embodiments, buffers and/or stabilizers are present in the kit components. In certain embodiments, the kits include indicator solutions or indicator “dipsticks”, blotters, culture media, cuvettes, and the like. In certain embodiments, the kits include indicator cartridges (where a kit component is bound to a solid support) for use in an automated detector. In certain embodiments, additional proteins, such as albumin, or surfactants, particularly non-ionic surfactants, may be included. In certain embodiments, the kits include an instruction manual that teaches a method of the embodiments and/or describes the use of the components of the kit. For example, embodiments of the kit may include: (a) an antibody raised against a posaconazole fragment; (b) ancillary reagents for determining the compound (as described herein); and (c) a labeled conjugate of a compound of Formula 1 above.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also include a kit for conveniently determining the presence or the absence of posaconazole in a sample. The kit may include an anti-posaconazole antibody and a posaconazole calibration standard. The posaconazole calibration standard may include calibration and control standards useful in performing the assay. The kits can also optionally include a conjugate that includes a posaconazole moiety and a detectable label. In certain embodiments, a detectable label of the conjugate is an enzyme. In some embodiments, the enzyme is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). In some embodiments, the G6PDH is a variant of a naturally-occurring G6PDH in which one or more lysine residues are deleted or substituted, or one or more cysteine residues are introduced.

Utility

The compounds, methods and kits of the present disclosure find use in routine therapeutic drug monitoring of posaconazole by immunoassays. In certain embodiments, these immunoassays provide simple automated tests adapted to standard laboratory equipment with a quick turn-around time. As described herein, in order to provide such immunoassays, antibodies specific to posaconazole are produced. The fragments and immunogens are designed to impart through the corresponding antibodies produced specific reactivity to posaconazole.

General Synthetic Schemes

In certain embodiments, posaconazole fragment POS-IV may be produced as shown in FIG. 3 from compound (9) and compound (7). Compound (9) is reacted with compound (7) to give compound (10). Compound (10) is treated with LiOH to produce posaconazole fragment POS-IV. POS-IV may be purified before proceeding to the next step.

As shown in FIG. 4, the acid group of compound POS-IV may be converted to an N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (compound (12)) and linked through the nitrogen to a protein to produce POS-IV KLH or to a label to produce POS-IV G6PDH, respectively. For example, purified posaconazole fragment POS-IV may be reacted with NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide) in the presence of a carbodiimide to prepare an amine-reactive ester of the carboxylate group for chemical labeling. The resulting semi-stable NHS ester may then be reacted with primary amines (—NH₂) present in proteins or the label enzyme to form amide crosslinks.

Immunogens prepared with posaconazole fragment POS-IV may provide for antibodies that react specifically with posaconazole. Antibodies that are specific to posaconazole may be utilized for different immunoassay formats as described herein.

Preparation of Antibodies

The following method may be employed to prepare polyclonal antibodies using the immunogens in Formula 1. Antiserum containing antibodies may be obtained by immunization of an animal, such as rabbits and sheep, with an appropriate immunogen and obtaining antisera from the blood of the immunized animal after an appropriate waiting period. Reviews of the preparation of antibodies are provided by Parker, Radioimmunoassay of Biologically Active Compounds, Prentice-Hall (Englewood Cliffs, N.J., U.S., 1976), Butler, J. Immunol. Meth. 7: 1 24 (1975); Broughton and Strong, Clin. Chem. 22: 726 732 (1976); and Playfair, et al., Br. Med. Bull. 30: 24 31 (1974).

The following procedure may be employed to prepare monoclonal antibodies for the immunogens of Formula 1. Monoclonal antibodies may be produced according to the standard techniques of Kohler and Milstein, Nature 265:495 497, 1975. Reviews of monoclonal antibody techniques are found in Lymphocyte Hybridomas, ed. Melchers, et al. Springer-Verlag (New York 1978), Nature 266: 495 (1977), Science 208: 692 (1980), and Methods of Enzymology 73 (Part B): 3 46 (1981). In some instances, samples of an appropriate immunogen preparation are injected into an animal such as a mouse and, after a sufficient time, the animal is sacrificed and spleen cells obtained. Alternatively, the spleen cells of a non-immunized animal can be sensitized to the immunogen in vitro. The spleen cell chromosomes encoding the base sequences for the desired immunoglobulins can be compressed by fusing the spleen cells, generally in the presence of a non-ionic detergent, for example, polyethylene glycol, with a myeloma cell line. In certain instances, the resulting cells, which include fused hybridomas, are allowed to grow in a selective medium, such as HAT-medium, and the surviving immortalized cells are grown in such medium using limiting dilution conditions. The cells may be grown in a suitable container, e.g., microtiter wells, and the supernatant screened for monoclonal antibodies having the desired specificity.

Various techniques exist for enhancing yields of monoclonal antibodies, such as injection of the hybridoma cells into the peritoneal cavity of a mammalian host, which accepts the cells, and harvesting the ascites fluid. Where an insufficient amount of the monoclonal antibody collects in the ascites fluid, the antibody may be harvested from the blood of the host. Alternatively, the cell producing the desired antibody can be grown in a hollow fiber cell culture device or a spinner flask device. Various conventional ways exist for isolation and purification of the monoclonal antibodies from other proteins and other contaminants (see Kohler and Milstein, supra).

Antibodies can be purified by techniques such as chromatography, e.g., DEAE chromatography, ABx chromatography, and the like, filtration, and so forth. Antibodies may be screened using any of several techniques, for example using an assay format as illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b , and considering such properties as specificity, conjugate inhibition, curve size and cross-reactivity.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their invention nor are they intended to represent that the experiments below are all or the only experiments performed. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g. amounts, temperature, etc.) but some experimental errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts by weight, molecular weight is weight average molecular weight, temperature is in degrees Celsius, and pressure is at or near atmospheric.

The following examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. It should be apparent that the present disclosure can include additional embodiments not illustrated by example. Additionally, certain examples have been performed using the POS-IV fragment, antigens, immunogens, and anti-POS-IV antibodies prepared in accordance with the present disclosure.

Experimental Details

Analytical thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on Analtech Uniplate Silica Gel GF (0.25 mm) glass-backed plates using the specified solvent. The spots on TLC were visualized by ultraviolet light (short and/or long wave) and/or iodine vapors. Flash chromatography was carried out on Whatman silica gel 60 Å (230 400 mesh). All chemicals were obtained from Sigma, Aldrich, Fluka or Lancaster and used as received. H-NMR and C-NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Ultrashiel™-400 (400 MHz) spectrometer. Chemical shifts were reported in parts per million (ppm, δ, and related to tetramethylsilane or with deuterated solvent as the internal reference). NMR abbreviations used are s (singlet), d (doublet), and m (multiplet).

Example 1 Preparation of 3-(4-(1-((2S,3S)-2-hydroxypentan-3-yl)-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4(5H)-yl)phenyl)propanoic acid (POS-IV)

Step 1.

To a solution of ethyl 3-(4-aminophenyl)propanoate (4 g, 20.7 mmol) in 40 mL of dichloromethane was added phenyl carbonochloridate (3.2 g, 20.7 mmol) at 0° C., followed by triethylamine (2.1 g, 20.7 mmol). The reaction solution was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h. The reaction solution was washed with brine, the organic layer was separated and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to give desired product (5.8 g, 91% yield) which was used in next step without purification.

Step 2

1-((2S,3S)-2-(benzyloxy)pentan-3-yl)hydrazine (2S,3S)-2,3-bis(benzoyloxy)succinic acid salt (4 g, 7.0 mmol) suspended in 40 mL of ethyl formate, the mixture was heated at reflux for 4 h. The solution was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL) and washed with sodium bicarbonate aqueous solution and brine, the organic layer was separated and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to give crude N′-((2S,3S)-2-(benzyloxy)pentan-3-yl)formohydrazide (compound (9), 1.3 g) which was used directly in next step.

Step 3.

To a solution of N′-((2S,3S)-2-(benzyloxy)pentan-3-yl)formohydrazide (compound (9), 2.5 g, 10.6 mmol) and ethyl 3-(4-(phenoxycarbonyl)phenyl)propanoate (compound (7), 3.3 g, 10.6 mmol) in toluene (30 mL) was added two drops of DBU. The resulting solution was heated at reflux for 24 h. The reaction solution was concentrated and the residue was purified on silica column gel to give ethyl 3-(4-(1-((2S,3S)-2-(benzyloxy)pentan-3-yl)-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4(5H)-yl)phenyl)propanoate (compound (10), 2.8 g, 60% yield).

Step 4.

A mixture of ethyl 3-(4-(1-((2S,3S)-2-(benzyloxy)pentan-3-yl)-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4(5H)-yl)phenyl)propanoate (compound (10), 2.8 g, 6.4 mmol) and Pd/C (10%, 300 mg, 50% wet) in 30 mL of methanol was stirred under H₂ (760 psi) at 50° C. for 5 h. The reaction was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to give ethyl 3-(4-(1-((2S,3S)-2-hydroxypentan-3-yl)-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4(5H)-yl)phenyl)propanoate (compound (11), 2.0 g, 90% yield)

Step 5

To a solution of ethyl 3-(4-(1-((2S,3S)-2-hydroxypentan-3-yl)-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4(5H)-yl)phenyl)propanoate (compound (11), 2.0 g, 5.8 mmol) in 10 mL of ethanol was added 2N LiOH aqueous solution (5.8 mL, 11.6 mmol). The reaction solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. 30 mL of water was added, and the aqueous solution was washed with ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer was acidified with HCl to pH 2, and then extracted with ethyl acetate, the organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated. The obtained solid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate and petroleum ether (20% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether) to give pure 3-(4-(1-((2S,3S)-2-hydroxypentan-3-yl)-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4(5H)-yl)phenyl)propanoic acid (compound (POS-IV), 800 mg, 43% yield).

Example 2 Preparation Activated Hapten (Compound 12)

To dried DMF (250 μL) was added EDAC (6.59 mg, 0.0344 mmol) and dissolved. The EDAC solution was added to hapten compound (POS-IV) (9.17 mg, 0.0287 mmol) at room temperature and stirred for approximately 30 min. N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) (4.12 mg, 0.0358 mmol) in DMF (50 μL) was added to the EDAC/hapten (POS-IV) solution. The mixture was stirred for approximately 2 hours at room temperature. Ester formation was monitored by TLC analysis. The activated hapten (12) was used in the next reaction. See FIG. 4.

Example 3 Preparation Enzyme Conjugate (POS-IV G6PDH)

G6PDH (USB, Santa Clara, Calif.) suspended in ammonium sulfate was centrifuged for 15 min at 12,000 rpm. The resulting pellet was reconstituted with phosphate buffer (12.5 mM, pH 7.2). The solution was dialyzed for 2 days at 4° C. against phosphate buffer (12.5 mM, pH 7.2) with three times of buffer exchange. After dialysis, the enzyme solution was transferred to a reaction vial and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 8.7 with sodium bicarbonate buffer (0.4 M, pH 9.4) in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P, 4.5 mg/mg G6PDH) and NADH (9 mg/mg G6PDH) for the next reaction.

Activated hapten (12) was added in 5 to 10 μL quantities to a solution of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, pH 8.7) at room temperature. After the addition of each portion of solution of compound (12) a 2 μL aliquot was taken and was diluted 1:500 with enzyme buffer. A 3 μL aliquot of this diluted conjugation mixture was assayed for enzymatic activity similar to that described in Example 7 below. The reaction was monitored and was stopped at approximately 65% deactivation of enzyme activity. The mixture was desalted with a PD-10 pre-packed Sephadex G-25 (Pharmacia, Inc.) and pre-equilibrated with HEPES buffer (10 mM, pH 6.9, 1 mM EDTA). The reaction mixture was applied to the column and the protein fractions pooled to yield a solution of conjugate (POS-IV G6PDH). See FIG. 4.

Example 4 Preparation of KLH Immunogen (POS-IV-KLH)

Two vials of lyophilized KLH (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) were reconstituted with deionized water each and were pooled, and transferred into a reaction vial. The pH of the KLH solution was adjusted to 8.7 with sodium bicarbonate buffer (0.4 M, pH 9.4). The solution of compound (POS-IV) was slowly added (10-20 μL per addition) to the solution of KLH over a period of 4 h at room temperature. After the addition was completed, the mixture was stirred in a 4° C. cold room overnight. This solution was then dialyzed against three changes of HEPES buffer (10 mM, pH 6.9, 1 mM) to give immunogen (POS-IV KLH). See FIG. 4.

Example 5 Preparation of Polyclonal Antibodies to Posaconazole

Polyclonal sera from 6 live rabbits were prepared by injecting six animals with immunogen (POS-IV KLH). This immunogenic formulation included 200 μg of the immunogen for the first immunization and 100 μg for all subsequent immunizations. Regardless of immunogen amount, the formulation was then diluted to 1 mL with sterile saline solution. This solution was then mixed thoroughly with 1 mL of the appropriate adjuvant: Freund's Complete Adjuvant for first immunization or Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant for subsequent immunizations. The stable emulsion was subsequently injected subcutaneously with a 19×1½ needle into New Zealand white rabbits. Injections were made at 3-4 week intervals. Bleeds of the immunized rabbits were taken from the central ear artery using a 19×1 needle. Blood was left to clot at 37° C. overnight, after which the serum was poured off and centrifuged. Preservatives were added in order to form the polyclonal antibody material. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies to posaconazole produced by the above procedure immunized with immunogen (POS-IV KLH) were designated as compositions Ab15419, Ab15420, Ab15421, Ab15422, Ab15423, and Ab15424.

Antiserum taken on day 91 from the start of immunization from rabbit polyclonal antibody composition Ab15421 was used in examples below.

Ab15421 was used to measure enzyme activity, generate a calibration curve, and evaluate assay precision, accuracy and specificity. Ab15421 was added into the antibody diluent to prepare the antibody reagent. The antibody reagent included Ab15421 as prepared above, buffer, stabilizers, preservatives, and the substrates for the enzyme conjugate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and glucose-6-phosphate. Enzyme conjugate POS-IV G6PDH was added into the conjugate reagent to prepare the enzyme conjugate reagent. The enzyme conjugate reagent included the conjugate, buffer, stabilizers and preservatives. Enzyme conjugate POS-IV G6PDH was used with Ab15421 in examples below.

Example 6 Preparation of Monoclonal Antibodies to Posaconazole

Monoclonal antibodies are prepared using standard hybridoma procedures as described in detail (Kohler, G. et al., Nature 256: 495-497 (1976); Hurrell, Monoclonal Hybridoma Antibodies: Techniques and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1982). This hybridoma technique is generally applicable to produce monoclonal antibodies to the posaconazole fragments as described herein.

Example 7 Assay for the Detection of Posaconazole

Posaconazole antibodies and enzyme conjugates in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure were employed in assays for the detection of posaconazole.

Ab15421 was added into the antibody diluent to prepare the antibody reagent. The antibody reagent included Ab15421 as prepared above, buffer, stabilizers, preservatives, and the substrates for the enzyme conjugate NAD⁺ and glucose 6 phosphate. Enzyme conjugate POS-IV G6PDH or a label protein including alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase and horse radish peroxidase was added into the conjugate reagent to prepare the enzyme conjugate reagent. The enzyme conjugate reagent included the conjugate, buffer, stabilizers and preservatives.

The posaconazole antibodies and enzyme conjugates were used in a homogeneous assay format to detect posaconazole samples. Posaconazole containing sample was incubated with antibody reagent followed by the addition of the enzyme conjugate reagent. The enzyme conjugate activity decreased upon binding to Ab15421. The enzyme conjugate, which was not bound to Ab15421, catalyzed the oxidation of glucose 6-phosphate (G6P). The oxidation of G6P was coupled with the reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH, which was measured at 340 nm. The change in the absorbance at 340 nm was measured spectrophotometrically. The posaconazole concentration in a sample was measured in terms of G6PDH activity. The increase in the rate at 340 nm was due to the formation of NADH and was proportional to the enzyme conjugate activity. An assay curve was generated using posaconazole added into serum negative for posaconazole. The assay rate increased with increasing the concentration of free drug in the sample.

Example 8 Calibration Curve

Posaconazole was dissolved in methanol to give a stock solution of 1000 μg/mL. Pooled human serum was aliquoted in 10 mL portions. Posaconazole stock solution was added to the aliquots of human serum in preparing a series of known concentrations of posaconazole calibrators ranging from 0 to 16 μg/mL. The assay was performed using Enzyme Conjugate Reagent NB051:154 containing conjugate POS-IV G6PDH and Antibody Reagent NB051:154 containing Ab15421. Calibration curves were generated on the HITACHI 917 automated clinical chemistry analyzer, as described in Example 7 by measuring each level in duplicate. An example of these calibrator rates is shown in Table 1 and the graph is shown in FIG. 6.

TABLE 1 Typical Calibration Curve Rates Posaconazole Conc. Reaction Rate (mA/min) (μg/mL) Average of Duplicates 0.0 129.8 1.0 165.7 2.0 235.5 4.0 304.7 8.0 371.7 16.0 409.4

Example 9 Specificity of the Immunoassay in the Presence of Other Azole Antifungals

To human serum negative for antifungal azoles was added posaconazole dissolved in methanol to achieve a concentration of 10 μg/mL of posaconazole. To a second sample was added fluconazole dissolved in methanol to achieve a concentration of 10 μg/mL fluconazole. Similarly, itraconazole and voriconazole dissolved in methanol were added to a third and fourth sample, respectively, to achieve a concentration of 10 μg/mL in each sample.

The assay was calibrated as described in Example 8 using Enzyme Conjugate Reagent NB051:154 containing conjugate POS-IV G6PDH and Antibody Reagent NB051:154 containing Ab15421. The testing was performed on the HITACHI 917. The samples were quantified from the calibration curve generated. As shown in Table 2, Ab15421 did not crossreact with fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole, indicating a highly specific antibody composition was produced.

TABLE 2 Cross-reactivity to Antifungal Triazoles % Crossreactivity = 100 × (mean value Test − mean value Control) ÷ (Conc. Compound Tested) Sample Cross-reactivity (%) Posaconazole(10 μg/ml) <0.01 Posaconazole(10 μg/ml) + Itrconazole (20 μg/ml) Posaconazole(10 μg/ml) <0.01 Posaconazole(10 μg/ml) + Fluconazole (20 μg/ml) Posaconazole(10 μg/ml) <0.01 Posaconazole(10 μg/ml) + Voriconazole (20 μg/ml)

The preceding merely illustrates the principles of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the embodiments and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the embodiments and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of the formula:

wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OH, —SH, —S-acyl; —O-lower alkyl, halogen, —NH₂, epoxy, maleimidyl, haloacetamide, carboxyl, activated carboxyl, an immunogenic carrier, and a label, and salts thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein the immunogenic carrier is a protein.
 3. The compound of claim 2, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of hemocyanins, globulins and albumins.
 4. The compound of claim 3, wherein the protein is bovine serum albumin (BSA) or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).
 5. The compound of claim 1, wherein the immunogenic carrier is a polysaccharide.
 6. The compound of claim 1, wherein the label is an enzyme.
 7. The compound of claim 6, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, and horse radish peroxidase.
 8. The compound of claim 7, wherein the enzyme is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH).
 9. The compound of claim 1, wherein the activated carboxyl group comprises a group selected from the group consisting of hydroxysuccinimidyl, succinimidyl, carbonate, anhydride, and imidate.
 10. An isolated polyclonal antibody that specifically binds an epitope present in posaconazole, wherein the antibody has a cross-reactivity with fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole of 0.01% or less each with respect to binding to posaconazole, wherein said cross-reactivity is measured in the presence of a label conjugate of the formula:


11. A method for detecting posaconazole, said method comprising: combining in a reaction mixture a sample suspected of containing posaconazole with an antibody of claim 10; and detecting the presence or absence of a complex comprising said posaconazole and said antibody, wherein the presence of the complex indicates the presence of posaconazole in said sample.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reaction mixture comprises the label conjugate (POS-IV G6PDH).
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting comprises determining the presence of an enzymatic reaction product of the label conjugate (POS-IV G6PDH).
 14. A kit for detecting posaconazole in a sample, said kit comprising: a polyclonal antibody that specifically binds an epitope present in posaconazole, wherein the antibody has a cross-reactivity with fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole of 0.01% or less each with respect to binding to posaconazole, wherein said cross-reactivity is measured in the presence of a label conjugate of the formula:

and instructions for an assay for detecting posaconazole.
 15. The kit of claim 14, further comprising one or more ancillary reagents for detecting a complex of said antibody and posaconazole.
 16. The kit of claim 14, further comprising the label conjugate (POS-IV G6PDH). 